ArticleGlobal health research and policy2026
Exploring Social Cognitive Theory: The mediating effect of social support on self-efficacy and physical activity among older adults in Nigeria.
Article in Global health research and policy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Background: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) remains insufficient among older adults in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. While Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) provides a framework for understanding behavioral determinants, limited evidence exists on how SCT constructs interact to influence MVPA in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examined the association between SCT constructs and MVPA and evaluated whether social support, motivation, and psychological distress mediate the relationship between self-efficacy and MVPA. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 387 older adults (mean age = 68.2 ± 6.3 years; 69.3% women) in Benin City, Nigeria. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form and dichotomized based on WHO recommendations (≥150 min/week). SCT constructs (self-efficacy, social support - family and friends, motivation, psychological distress) were assessed using exercise self-efficacy scale, social support for exercise scale, multidimensional outcome expectations for exercise scale, and self-regulation questionnaire. Correlations between SCT constructs and MVPA were examined using Spearman's rank correlation, and logistic regression identified predictors of meeting MVPA, while causal mediation analysis estimated indirect and direct effects. Results: Only 35.70% of participants met MVPA recommendations. In the fully adjusted model (age, sex, and education), self-efficacy was the only significant independent predictor of meeting MVPA guidelines (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02-1.09). Correlation analyses showed modest positive associations between MVPA and self-efficacy (r = 0.2, Conclusions: Self-efficacy plays a central role in promoting MVPA among older adults, with social support acting as a complementary but modest pathway. Interventions targeting older adults in sub-Saharan Africa should prioritize strengthening self-efficacy while leveraging peer and family-based support structures. These findings support the development of culturally grounded, socially integrated physical activity interventions tailored to aging populations in resource-constrained contexts.
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