Although physical activity above a certain threshold has been associated with numerous health benefits (Warburton, Nicol, & Bredin, 2006), most Canadians are not active enough to realize these benefits (Craig, Russell, Cameron, & Bauman, 2004). In order to examine individuals own explanations of their health-related physical activity behaviour in terms of attributions, four studies testing elements of Weiners (1986) attribution theory and Banduras (1997) self-efficacy theory were conducted with a university sample. The results from the first study revealed that perceived outcome differentiated attributional explanations while objective outcome did not. Results also revealed that although predicted relationships concerning attribution-dependent emotions were largely unsupported, emotions were associated with outcomes. Further, results suggested that those making stable attributions reported more certainty of similar future outcomes than those making unstable attributions. Results in the second study suggested that attributional dimensions significantly improved the prediction of self-regulatory efficacy beyond that predicted by past success/failure to be active enough for health benefits alone. Stability appeared to be the most important attributional dimension in predicting self-efficacy. Results in the third study suggested self-regulatory efficacy significantly improved the prediction of future intention beyond that of past success/failure to be active enough for health benefits alone. The results from the fourth study supported the plausibility of self-regulatory efficacy partially mediating the relationship between stability of attributions for typical levels of exercise and intention to maintain those levels during a forthcoming final exam period for both moderate- and mild-intensity exercise. Results are discussed in the contexts of testing attribution theory and self-efficacy theory and improving understandings of physical activity behaviour.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:USASK/oai:usask.ca:etd-01112008-132006 |
| Date | 15 January 2008 |
| Creators | Nickel, Darren Mark |
| Contributors | Spink, Kevin S., Rodgers, Wendy, Gyurcsik, Nancy, Brawley, Lawrence, Wright, Karen |
| Publisher | University of Saskatchewan |
| Source Sets | University of Saskatchewan Library |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://library.usask.ca/theses/available/etd-01112008-132006/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Saskatchewan or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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