Health Behaviour Intentions and Barriers to Physical Activity among Health Science Students: Exploring General Self Efficacy as a Mediator

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine general self-efficacy as a mediator of the association between perceived barriers to physical activity(PA) and health behaviour intentions as well as moderate to vigorous physical activity(MVPA) among health science students. 205 Students completed the self-reported questionnaire. Mediation analysis revealed partial mediation of general self-efficacy on relationships between general barriers to PA and health behaviour intentions (b=0.812, p=0.001 reduced to b= 0.586, p=0.001). Mediation analysis also revealed that general self-efficacy fully mediated the association between barriers to physical activity and moderate to vigorous physical activity (b= 0.416, p=0.001 reduced to b= - 0.93, p=0.120).Pearson correlation was done and revealed that general self-efficacy was significantly correlated to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity r(205)=0.751, p. In view of the findings obtained from this research, participation in exercise has a positive effect on psychological effects like general self-efficacy, and general self-efficacy played a major role in predicting the health behaviour intention of health science students. This study suggests that, in the effort to encourage the student’s physical activity participation, university management should also plan and organize programmes to develop positive attitudes among students, because increasing their self-efficacy will have overall effect on their health behaviour habits.