Sources of self-efficacy for physical activity among young adults in the United Kingdom: a mixed-methods investigation

This study aimed to explore the relationships between sources of self-efficacy and self-efficacy for physical activity (PA), and compare interactions between mastery experience and other sources, among young adults in the United Kingdom. It also aimed to compare perceptions of sources among individuals of different mastery experience. A mixed-methods approach was employed. An analytical cross-sectional design was utilised, with 207 participants completing a questionnaire assessing sources and self-efficacy for PA. A subsample of 26 participants completed a qualitative questionnaire. Hierarchical linear regression and a coding reliability thematic analysis was conducted to analyse the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Mastery experience (β = 0.40, p < .001), self-persuasion (β = 0.24, p < .001), and negative affective states (β = -0.21, p < .001) were significantly associated with self-efficacy for PA. The interaction between mastery experience and self-persuasion was significant (β = -0.25, p < .001), with self-persuasion only positively influencing self-efficacy at lower levels of mastery experience. Other theorised sources were not associated with self-efficacy for PA. Qualitative findings generally supported and elucidated these findings, and highlighted that vicarious experience may facilitate or debilitate self-efficacy for PA. This study identified several significant associations between self-efficacy and its sources, as well as their interdependencies. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.