The Role of Self-Efficacy on the Relationship Between the Workplace Environment and Physical Activity: A Longitudinal Mediation Analysis

Abstract

Cross-sectional studies show that self-efficacy (SE) serves as a partial mediator of the effect that perceptions of workplace environment have on self-reported workplace physical activity (PA). To further explore the role SE plays in the relationship between perceptions of the workplace environment and workplace PA, cross-sectional mediation analyses were performed on adult employees at baseline ( n = 897), 6 months ( n = 616), and 12 months ( n = 612); a longitudinal time-sequence was incorporated into the mediation model; and correlates of residual change version of the mediation were tested. The R2 ranged from .05 to .08 for the three cross-sectional analyses, .03 for the longitudinal analyses, and from .02 to .03 for the residual analyses. The results from the residual change model analyses supported those of the cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, suggesting the relationship between perceived workplace environment and PA was partially mediated by SE. Future research should include similar studies with different population groups and in different settings.