Open AccessCollege Student Exercise Motivation: The Role of Belongingness and College Self-Efficacy
Author(s) -
Bini Sebastian,
Christopher D. Slaten,
Michael Steven Williams,
Zachary M. Elison
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of contemporary education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2575-3185
pISSN - 2575-3177
DOI - 10.11114/ijce.v4i2.5221
Subject(s) - belongingness , psychology , promotion (chess) , self efficacy , stress management , social psychology , weight management , clinical psychology , medicine , weight loss , obesity , politics , political science , law
This study examined the role of college self-efficacy in the relationship between university belongingness and exercise motivation among a group of college students (N = 311). Multiple social factors have been identified as playing an important role in students’ physical health and wellness (Leslie et al., 1999; Wallace et al., 2000); however, the mechanisms by which university belongingness influences various exercise motives are unexplored. In the current study, college self-efficacy was examined as a mediator between university belongingness and six types of exercise motivation: stress management, appearance, enjoyment, revitalization, weight management, and positive health (Markland & Ingledew, 1997). Results showed that college self-efficacy mediated the relationship between belongingness and exercise motivation for stress management, enjoyment, revitalization, and positive health. These findings highlight how college self-efficacy helps explain the relationship between university belongingness and motivation to exercise, providing insight into prevention research and implications for university personnel to help foster greater health promotion on campus.