Abstract

CAMPOS SALAZAR, Cinthya  and  SOLERA HERRERA, Andrea. The effect of different sport and physical activity courses on self-efficacy of costa rican university students. Rev. Actual. Investig. Educ [online]. 2013, vol.13, n.3, pp.01-17. ISSN 1409-4703.

This article was conducted with college students enrolled in the course "Sports Activity" at the University of Costa Rica. The purposes were: (1) to determine whether significant associations existed between levels of self-efficacy, defined as the confidence to begin and stay on an exercise program, and the amount of physical activity reported by the students at the beginning of the course; (2) to determine whether significant effects of selected physical and sport activities on self-efficacy levels exist, both, for performing exercise and for avoiding dropping off exercise; and (3), to test whether changes in self-efficacy are influenced by gender or type of physical activity (fitness courses versus sport courses). Participants were 211 students registered in the third session term 2009, during Costa Rican summer. Students responded at the beginning and at the end of the course the self-efficacy survey for exercise behavior and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) in order to measure the levels of physical activity. The results indicated a positive association between the level of physical activity reported by students and self-efficacy (p < 0.001). Females showed lower levels of self-efficacy than males (p < 0.001) and the level of self-efficacy increased significantly (p <0.05) regardless of gender and physical activity. In conclusion, most active students showed higher self-efficacy scores and sport courses elicited positive effects on participants' self-efficacy.

Keywords : Self-eficacia; college students; physical activity; sport; University of Costa Rica.

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