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Unlabelled: Thorough evaluation and systematic instrumentation about self-efficacy related to physical activity (PA) in adolescents is necessary to determine efficacy and effectiveness of intervention on PA behavior. The purpose of this report was to investigate the psychometric properties of a perceived self-efficacy scale for PA. In the observational cross-sectional cohort design, an 11-item Perceived Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Scale was evaluated in a sample of 206 racially diverse adolescents at a Midwestern U.S. public middle school., Participants: The convenience sample included 105 boys and 101 girls from sixth to eighth grade: 47.1% of the participants were European American, 19.4% were African American, and 18% were "other" races and "multi-racial." The University Institutional Review Board provided approval for conducting the study. The same instruments were delivered to participants on two separate occasions, 2 weeks apart. The results from this study revealed satisfactory internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha coefficient of .86, and test-retest reliability of .61. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed a one-factor structure with modest fit. However, the self-efficacy was not related to PA and known-group technique was not supported. The study measure demonstrated satisfactory reliability and construct validity through CFA.

Interventions are needed to reduce the high overweight prevalence noted among boys in early high school. Because decreased physical activity (PA) is a factor for weight gain and a decline in boys' PA occurs across the middle school years, a need exists to intervene, as soon as boys reach middle school, to help them get adequate PA. The purpose of this study was to explore perceived benefits, barriers, self-efficacy, enjoyment or activity preferences, and situational or environmental influences related to PA among sixth-grade boys (N = 40). Each boy participated in one of seven focus groups. Having an average weight was the most important benefit. The most prominent personal barrier focused on being unmotivated. Environmental barriers included lacking equipment and places for PA. Suggestions for increasing boys' PA were identified. Findings have implications for nurses interested in designing interventions to assist boys of this age in achieving PA recommendations.

Perceived benefits of and barriers to physical activity (PA) reported by 206 middle school boys and girls in a survey were compared. Only "take care of myself, stay in shape, and be healthier" emerged as a greater benefit for girls than boys. Among students not on a sports team, boys reported fewer barriers than girls. Among those selecting an active pursuit, boys perceived more barriers than girls. When controlling for sports team participation and perceived benefits and barriers, boys reported more minutes of vigorous PA than girls. As boys and girls reported relatively similar benefits of and barriers to PA, nurse counseling with both groups can focus on the same information. Effort is particularly needed to increase PA among girls.

The purpose of this study was to psychometrically test the Adolescent Physical Activity Perceived Benefits and Barriers Scales developed for middle-school-age youth. A total of 206 racially diverse 6th, 7th, and 8th graders completed questionnaires at two time points (2 weeks apart). For the 10-item Perceived Benefits Scale and the 9-item Perceived Barriers Scale, test-retest reliability (r = .70; r = .71, respectively) and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha was .80 and .79, respectively, at time 1) were supported. Principal components analysis with Varimax rotation was employed to assess construct validity. A 2-factor solution emerged for each scale as predicted. The relationship between both scale scores and self-reported physical activity provided additional evidence of validity. Both instruments were found to be reliable and valid for measuring the perceived benefits of and barriers to physical activity in middle school youth.

The decline of physical activity during adolescence is not well understood. This prospective study followed 969 Taiwanese students from eighth to ninth grade and examined their physical activity-related cognitions, interpersonal influences, and behavior of physical activity across the grade transition. Gender differences were found in the effects of the grade transition on physical activity and its related cognitions. The correlation coefficients showed moderate tracking for physical activity, cognitions, and interpersonal influences for both genders. The results also indicated that cognitions are more stable than behavior. The present study provides evidence of the decline in physical activity in Taiwanese youth across the grade transition as well as gender differences in the variables cognitions and interpersonal influences.

The purpose of this paper is to present a comparative analysis of the determinants of physical activity among adolescents in Taiwan and in the United States. Pender's Health Promotion Model (HPM) served as the theoretical framework for both studies (Pender, 1996). The major determinants of health behavior in the HPM are perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, activity-related affect, interpersonal influences, situational influences, commitment to a plan of action, and immediate competing demands. In Taiwan, 969 middle school students (55% males; 45% females) from Taipei provided data for the study. In the United States, the sample was collected from 286 late elementary and middle school students (48% males; 52% females). Results showed the gender differences in activity levels were apparent in the youths from both countries. In both Taiwanese and American youths, boys were more active than girls. Cross-cultural differences in the importance of barriers to physical activity emerged. Among Taiwanese adolescents, barriers did not emerge as a significant direct predictor of physical activity as they did among US adolescents. Perceived efficacy directly predicted physical activity among Taiwanese youths while it indirectly predicted physical activity and appeared to be mediated by beliefs regarding exercise benefits and barriers among American youths. In addition, the paths of effect for interpersonal influences were different when Taiwanese and US youths were compared. The findings from this paper have important and culturally-relevant information that can inform future physical activity intervention studies with diverse adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among interpersonal influences (i.e., social support, norms, modeling), behavior-specific cognitions (i.e., self-efficacy, perceived benefits/barriers), competing demands, and physical activity among Taiwanese adolescents (N = 832). The results from structural equation modeling indicated that perceived self-efficacy was the most important predictor of physical activity. Interpersonal influences, when considered in total, had a weak and nonsignificant direct effect on physical activity but had indirect effects on physical activity thorough perceived benefits and perceived self-efficacy. When sources of interpersonal influences were considered separately, parental influences did not have direct effects on physical activity. In contrast, peers did have a significant direct effect on physical activity and also indirect influences on physical activity through perceived self-efficacy. All variables accounted for 30% of the variance in physical activity. Results of this study identify important influences useful to health professionals for promoting physical activity in this population., (Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons,)

Background. Although a number of studies have investigated perceived self-efficacy, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers and their relationship to adolescents'' participation in physical activity, the validity and reliability of the instruments used have not been consistently examined. The purpose of the present study was to develop culturally sensitive, reliable, and valid instruments to measure physical activity cognitions among Taiwanese adolescents.Methods. The items generated for the instruments were drawn from a comprehensive literature review and a focus group interview. The instruments were translated using the back-translation technique and evaluated by a panel of experts. Psychometric testing was performed and confirmed with convenience samples of 110 and 969 Taiwanese adolescents.Results. Psychometric testing demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency and validity of the instrument for this group of Taiwanese adolescents. Cronbach''s α''s ranged from 0.79 to 0.90. Construct validity was supported by exploring the factor structure of the instrument using confirmatory factor analysis and correlation with the outcome variable of physical activity.Conclusions. The study identified culturally sensitive items to measure physical activity cognitions in urban Taiwanese students in their early adolescence. Clinicians or practitioners can use the instruments developed and tested in this study for clinical assessment to identify risk factors for inactivity as well as for further research in similar populations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]