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Self‐Efficacy as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Causal Attributions and Exercise Behavior
Author(s) -
Shields Christopher A.,
Brawley Lawrence R.,
Lindover Tamara I.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.0021-9029.2006.00128.x
Subject(s) - attribution , psychology , mediator , self efficacy , attendance , social cognitive theory , multilevel model , psychological intervention , social cognition , cognition , social psychology , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , medicine , machine learning , psychiatry , neuroscience , computer science , economics , economic growth
The primary purposes of this study were to examine whether the attribution–intention link was mediated by self‐efficacy and whether the attribution–behavior link was mediated by self‐efficacy. As a secondary purpose, we examined whether the attribution–behavior link was mediated by exercise intentions. These relationships were tested prospectively at multiple time points. Participants were 260 adult exercisers ( M age=32 years) enrolled in 12 weeks of structured exercise classes. Social cognitive measures were assessed at early and midprogram; attendance was tracked for the first and second half of the program. Hierarchical multiple regression procedures indicated support for self‐efficacy as a mediator of the relationship between attributions and behavior. Secondary analyses revealed support for intention as a mediator of the attribution–behavior relationship. Finally, additive relationships in support of social cognitive theory also were detected. The attribution/self‐efficacy/behavior link is important for adherence interventions and should be investigated further in both asymptomatic and symptomatic populations.