The confidence to get going: The moderating effects of depressive symptoms on the self-efficacy–activity relationship among youth and adolescents

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the relationship between self-efficacy and physical activity was moderated by the presence of depressive symptoms in a sample of youth and adolescents. Participants (N = 688) from grades 7-12 completed measures of self-efficacy and depressive symptoms at baseline and self-report measures of physical activity 1 month later. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated a moderating effect of depressive symptoms on the self-efficacy-physical activity relationship, with this relationship being even more pronounced among those reporting depressive symptoms. These findings have important implications for the promotion of physical activity among youth and adolescents especially those suffering from depressive symptoms.