OBJECTIVE: To examine social cognitive factors associated with physical activity (PA) among preadolescent girls. METHOD: Social cognitive theory was used to examine PA in girls (N=90; 71% African American) participating in Girls on the Run. Multiple regressions explored factors associated with PA at posttesting and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: Significant increases in PA, social influences, and self-efficacy were found, which were sustained at 3-month follow-up. Self-efficacy and social influences had the strongest relations to PA at posttest; self-efficacy remained the strongest predictor of PA at 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Social support and self-efficacy are important targets of PA interventions in preadolescent girls.
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Bean et al. (2012) studied this question.