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Physical activity, self‐efficacy, and perceived exertion among adolescents
Author(s) -
Robbins Lorraine B.,
Pender Nola J.,
Ronis David L.,
Kazanis Anamaria S.,
Pis Monika B.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/nur.20042
Subject(s) - exertion , perceived exertion , physical activity , psychology , self efficacy , clinical psychology , medicine , developmental psychology , physical therapy , social psychology , heart rate , blood pressure , radiology
The relationship of self‐efficacy, a sense of confidence in personal physical activity (PA) skills, to perceived exertion during activity was explored among 168 African American and European American boys and girls between 9 and 17 years of age. Participants walked/ran on a treadmill at a speed equivalent to 60% of their peak VO 2 for 20 minutes and provided ratings of exertion every 4 minutes. Pre‐activity self‐efficacy predicted perceived exertion for boys only. Girls were lower than boys in pre‐activity self‐efficacy and subsequently reported greater perceived exertion. For both genders, lower perceived exertion during PA resulted in higher post‐activity self‐efficacy. Uncomfortable perceptions of exertion during initial efforts to increase PA are likely to discourage future activity. Interventions that can lower perceptions of exertion may enhance self‐efficacy and promote a sense of competence in PA skills. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 27:435–446, 2004