Psychosocial Predictors of Female College Students' Motivational Responses: A Prospective Analysis

Abstract

According to social cognitive theory, group cohesion and self-efficacy have been identified as important environmental and individual elements in students' physical activity. This study examined the correlations among group cohesion, exercise self-efficacy, perceived interest, and physical activity among 143 female college students ( M age = 21.2yr., SD = 4.2) enrolled in aerobics dance classes. Participants were recruited by researchers at the beginning of the semester. In the 6th wk., students completed a questionnaire measuring group cohesion construct. At the end of the 13th wk., a survey on self-efficacy, perceived interest, and physical activity measures was completed by the students. Multiple regression analyses indicated both exercise self-efficacy and task cohesion explained significant variance in students' physical activity; also, Individual Attraction to the Group-Task (ATG-T) accounted for 9.6% of the variance in exercise self-efficacy. The results suggest that enhancing group cohesiveness may promote competence beliefs, which could motivate students' participation in group activity programs.