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. 2024 Oct 11;12(1):548.
doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-02055-3.

Does autonomous motivation and self-efficacy mediate associations between environmental factors and physical activity in adolescents?

Rodrigo de Oliveira Barbosa  1 , Géssika Castilho Dos Santos  2 , Jadson Marcio da Silva  3 , Thais Maria de Souza Silva  1 , Pedro Henrique Garcia Dias  1 , Renan Camargo Correa  3 , Jeffer Eidi Sasaki  4 , Antonio Stabelini Neto  1   3
Affiliations

Does autonomous motivation and self-efficacy mediate associations between environmental factors and physical activity in adolescents?

Rodrigo de Oliveira Barbosa et al. BMC Psychol. .

Abstract

Background: To analyze the associations among autonomous motivation, self-efficacy, satisfaction of basic psychological needs, social support and perceived environment with physical activity practice of adolescents aged between 12 and 15 years; and to test autonomous motivations and self-efficacy as potential mediators of the associations between these environmental factors and physical activity practice.

Methods: We evaluated 553 adolescents, that participated in the ActTeens Program. Physical activity was assessed using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents. Autonomous motivation, self-efficacy, satisfaction of basic psychological needs, parents' social support and perceived environment were assessed using specifics questionnaires. Linear regression models were used to test the associations.

Results: Parents' support (β = 0.32), satisfaction of basic psychological needs of colleagues (β = 0.21) and teachers (β = 0.12), and perceived environment (β = 0.10) had significant associations with physical activity (p < 0.05). The direct effect value was reduced when autonomous motivation was added as a mediator of the association between parents' support and physical activity (β = 0.24), with a 25% mediated effect. Autonomous motivation was mediator of the relationship between basic psychological needs of colleagues (β = 0.13; EM = 38%), teachers (β = 0.02; EM = 83%), and perceived environment (β = 0.03; EM = 70%) with physical activity.

Conclusion: Self-efficacy was not associated with physical activity and autonomous motivation was an important mediator of adolescents' physical activity.

Keywords: Encouragement; Mediating factors; Neighborhood environment; Physical education; Social support; Teenagers.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mediation diagram between parent support and physical activity, mediated by autonomous motivation. *p < 0.05. a) – Total analysis. b) - Male. c) - Female. PA – Physical Activity. C – Total effect. C’ – Direct effect
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mediation diagram between colleagues’ basic psychological needs and physical activity, mediated by autonomous motivation. *p < 0.05. a) – Total analysis. b) - Male. c) - Female. BPN – Basic Psychological Needs. PA – Physical Activity. C – Total effect. C’ – Direct effect
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Mediation diagram between teacher’s basic psychological needs and physical activity, mediated by autonomous motivation. *p < 0.05. a) Total analysis. b) Male. c) Female. BPN – Basic Psychological Needs. PA – Physical Activity. C – Total effect. C’ – Direct effect
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Mediation diagram between perceived environment and physical activity, mediated by autonomous motivation. *p < 0.05. a) – Total analysis. b) - Male. PA – Physical Activity. C – Total effect. C’ – Direct effect
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