Exercise self-efficacy and its correlates among socioeconomically disadvantaged older adults

Abstract

Self-efficacy has been shown to be one of the strongest, mutable predictors of exercise behavior. This report presents data on exercise self-efficacy and outcome expectations and their correlates within a stratified random sample of 729 urban, lower-income primary-care patients age 55 and older. Exercise self-efficacy scores were greater among persons with current exercise, no pain or fear of shortness of breath with exercise, and good self-rated health. Higher outcome expectations scores were associated with verbal persuasion from a doctor or from family and friends and positive attitudes and knowledge of exercise. Sociodemographic characteristics, environmental factors, and intrapersonal factors accounted for 31% of the variance in self-efficacy, but just 13% of the variance in outcome expectations. Further work on potential correlates and their measurement is needed to identify determinants of both outcome expectations and self-efficacy.