Are Self-Efficacy and Perceived Environmental Characteristics Determinants of Decline in Physical Activity Time?

Abstract

Context: This study analyzed whether self-efficacy (SE) and perceived environmental characteristics (EC) are determinants of the decline in physical activity (PA) time in adolescents. Methods: This used longitudinal observational approach, with 4 years of data collection, involving 355 adolescents (57.7% girls and 42.3% boys), average age of 11.8 years (0.1 y), from João Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil. SE and EC were measured by scales and PA by a questionnaire. Ordinal logistic regression was used to associate SE and EC with a decline in PA. Results: There was a linear trend toward a decrease in average PA duration (58.3 [13.7] min/wk/y) and a rise in average access to places for PA (point per year) (0.6 [0.1]), urban safety (0.2 [0.1]), and traffic safety scores (0.5 [0.1]). The results of multivariable analysis indicated that SE and EC were not associated with the decline in PA. Conclusion: There was a decline in PA time, and SE and perceived EC were not determinants of this decline.