Effect of changes of outcome expectations on physical activity self-efficacy ratings: A test of hypothetical incentives among mothers of young children.

Abstract

Previous research suggests that traditional self-efficacy measures may be flawed because they also measure motivation via outcome expectations. One way of manipulating outcome expectations is through the introduction of an incentive for doing a behavior. No study has examined whether self-efficacy ratings for physical activity (PA) can be influenced by an incentive. The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether PA self-efficacy ratings can be affected by an incentive. Mothers with at least 1 child under 5 years of age (N ϭ 152) completed an online survey.Participants indicated current PA level, affective and instrumental attitudes, and selfefficacy for general regular moderate and vigorous intensity PA and two specific PA behaviors with high difficulty (jumping over a 2-m fence, bench pressing 200 pounds) before and after considering a hypothetical financial incentive. Dependent t tests showed self-efficacy ratings for general PA and both specific behaviors were much higher postincentive, with PA ratings increasing to a greater degree. Steiger's z tests demonstrated that PA self-efficacy without an incentive was also more highly correlated with affective attitude and vigorous PA than was self-efficacy with an incentive. This study demonstrates that traditional self-efficacy measures are far too sensitive to outcome expectations and are therefore not valid assessments of capability.