Abstract
Abundant research suggests that exercise self-efficacy is a critical determinant of behaviour and a multidimensional construct. The purpose of this study was to examine the trajectories of task, coping, and scheduling self-efficacy over a six month exercise program in men and women. Forty men (Mage = 43, SD = 10) and sixty women (Mage = 44, SD = 11) completed assessments of self-efficacy at baseline, 7, 12, and 24 weeks of the exercise program. The self-efficacy sub-types exhibited invariance over time and by gender. Latent growth curve models revealed individual differences in initial levels of task, coping, and scheduling self-efficacy and rates of change for coping and scheduling self-efficacy. Task self-efficacy did not change over time. For coping and scheduling self-efficacy, the functional form of change was quadratic, such that self-efficacy levels increased from baseline to 7 weeks, and then decreased at 12 and 24 weeks. Women's scheduling self-efficacy decreased more rapidly and deviated more from linearity than men's. Given that at 7 weeks exercise supervision ceased, support beyond 7 weeks may be needed to instill resilient coping and scheduling self-efficacy beliefs. Women may require additional support to develop their scheduling self-efficacy beliefs over and above that required by men.Acknowledgments: Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada