PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS A MEDIATOR OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF-EFFICACY AND BODY MASS INDEX IN A NON-CLINICAL SAMPLE OF CHILDREN

Abstract

The present study examined the associations among key pediatric overweight prevention and intervention variables: body mass index (BMI), physical activity self-efficacy (PASE), physical activity, and sedentary behavior. The first tested hypothesis purported an association between PASE and BMI that is mediated by physical activity. The second hypothesis stated that this mediation is moderated by sedentary behavior. A community sample of 382 fifth and sixth grade students were measured for height and weight and completed questionnaires. Findings suggest that, for girls only, PASE is negatively associated with BMI via physical activity for children who take part in longer amounts of sedentary behavior. These findings highlight the role of PASE in maintaining beneficial physical activity levels among children who are more sedentary, and the importance of accounting for sex and sedentary behavior within the physical activity literature. These findings are then discussed within the context of informing intervention efforts targeting pediatric overweight.