The relationship of Physical Activity Self-Efficacy (PASE) to psychobehavioral characteristics of overweight and obese African American children from an inner city area has been understudied, making it difficult to know whether effective interventions should include a broad or more focused approach. The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity has reached epidemic levels in developed countries. and this is of substantial clinical and public health concern. Physical activity is a key component of the expenditure aspect of energy balance, providing a major avenue for caloric consumption. Regular physical activity has favorable effects on weight maintenance and/or loss, improved psychological wellbeing, and cardiovascular fitness in adolescents. According to social cognitive theory, self-efficacy has a central influence on exercise behavior. Volitional behaviors are dependent on opportunity as well as on the inner psychological state of the person. Psychobehavioral characteristics are known to cluster within children such that clinical indicators (behavioral symptoms, externalizing problems, internalizing problems, etc.) and adaptive scores (activities of daily living, adaptability, social skills etc.) are negatively correlated.
Based on the strong association between physical activity self-efficacy and child-reported psychobehavioral characteristics, we conclude that positive change in the childâs perception of his/her basic behavioral and social characteristics may increase self-efficacy and, thus, effectiveness of physical activity interventions.
Relationship of Physical Activity Self-Efficacy and Psychobehavioral Characteristics of Overweight and Obese African American Children
Sharma S
Last date updated on June, 2014
