Self-efficacy and physical activity among adults with visual impairments.

BACKGROUND

According to empirical evidence, adults with visual impairments are generally less physically active than their sighted peers, however less is known about what specific motivational factors influence physical activity participation among this population. While research has identified self-efficacy as one important motivational factor for physical activity, no previous research has examined this association among individuals with visual impairments.

OBJECTIVE

The primary purpose of the current study was to examine the association between self-efficacy and physical activity for adults with visual impairments.

METHODS

A total of 147 participants (Mage = 44.5, 65.2% female) completed three online surveys (i.e., demographic questionnaire, International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form [IPAQ-SF], and Self-Efficacy for Exercise Beliefs [SEEB] scale) and were included in the analysis. MET-min/wk and SE beliefs were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using correlation and multiple regression analyses.

RESULTS

Participants reported an average of 2799.98 MET-min/wk. Body mass measures showed a mean BMI of 27.59, which was within the overweight range. A positive association (r = 0.29, p < 0.01) was found between self-efficacy and MET-min/wk. A significant amount of variance (10.2%) in MET-min/wk was explained by the overall model.

CONCLUSIONS

A positive relationship was found between physical activity participation and self-efficacy beliefs, which is aligned with earlier research conducted among individuals without disabilities. This finding underscores the need for further exploration of motivational constructs associated with physical activity engagement among individuals with visual impairments in order to better understand what specific factors impact and can be leveraged to promote physical activity engagement of this population.