An analysis of the relationship between self-efficacy, fitness levels, and exercise frequency among university students

Establishing and maintaining an exercise routine is beneficial for college students, as many are on the verge of a new self-directed lifestyle. Students need to have an increased awareness of the importance of fitness as it affects their daily lives. The purpose of this study was to determine what effect, if any, frequency of exercise had on self-efficacy and fitness levels over a fifteen week period. Participants included 75 female students enrolled in aerobics classes at a rural university. The study, conducted during the 15 weeks of the semester, consisted of pre- and post-testing of a self-efficacy instrument, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and body fat. Between-groups repeated measures analysis of variance statistical analysis was used to determine the difference between the two-days-per-week and three-days-per-week classes. Results indicated a nonsignificant difference between pre- and post-test exercise self-efficacy between the two groups. Results also indicated a nonsignificant difference between pre- and post-test fitness tests for 1.5 mile run, push-ups, crunches, and body fat between the two groups. However, there was a statistically significant difference in pre- and post-test stretch between the two groups. Overall results indicated that there is no statistically significant difference in fitness levels and frequency of exercise between the two groups in four out of five tests. The present study was designed to examine whether: (a) frequency of exercise had a significant effect on self-efficacy, and (b) frequency of exercise had a significant effect on fitness levels. The results did not support the hypothesis that frequency of exercise had a significant effect on self-efficacy, or that frequency of exercise had a significant effect on fitness levels. However, it is evident that participants in both groups increased their exercise self-efficacy as well as their fitness levels during the fifteen week period. The results of this study are beneficial to health care providers as they indicate that frequency of exercise may not be as important as duration of exercise.