SOCIAL COGNITIVE DETERMINANTS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN A PREDOMINANTLY HISPANIC COLLEGE POPULATION

Dejan Magoc, Department of Health Studies, Eastern Illinois University, Joe Tomaka, Department of Public Health
University of Texas at El Paso


Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the general level of physical activity (PA) among
predominantly Hispanic college population. In addition, the study examined the relationships
between the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) constructs and PA. One hundred participants
completed the questionnaire in regard to PA and SCT. The results of this study showed that 59%
of the sample met recommendations for PA. Furthermore, self-efficacy was the only significant
predictor of PA METS, β = .35, p < .01. This study helps understand the relationship between the
SCT constructs and PA, suggesting that maintaining the SCT processes will lead to regular PA.
Thus, encouraging and targeting PA together with cognitive changes might be of great interest
for future research.

Key words: physical activity, SCT, college students, Hispanics



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