Synergistic effect of social support and self-efficacy on physical exercise in older adults

J Aging Phys Act. 2011 Jul;19(3):249-61. doi: 10.1123/japa.19.3.249.

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to examine whether the effects of social support on physical exercise in older adults depend on individual perceptions of self-efficacy. Three hundred nine older German adults (age 65-85) were assessed at 3 points in time (3 months apart). In hierarchical-regression analyses, support received from friends and exercise self-efficacy were specified as predictors of exercise frequency while baseline exercise, sex, age, and physical functioning were controlled for. Besides main effects of self-efficacy and social support, an interaction between social support and self-efficacy emerged. People with low self-efficacy were less likely to be active in spite of having social support. People with low support were less likely to be active even if they were high in self-efficacy. This points to the importance of both social support and self-efficacy and implies that these resources could be targets of interventions to increase older adults' exercise.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Exercise / psychology*
  • Female
  • Friends / psychology*
  • Health Behavior
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Life Style
  • Male
  • Physical Fitness
  • Psychological Theory
  • Psychology, Social
  • Self Efficacy*
  • Social Support*