Investigation of Path Analysis Model of the Physical Activity Social Support of Parents among Adolescent Girls

The aim of this study was to determine path analysis the relationship between parental social support and tendency, enjoyment and level of physical activity in adolescent girls. The mediating role of perceived motor competence was also evaluated. The research method is correlational research. The statistical population was adolescent girls aged 14 to 17 years in Tabriz that 380 people were selected as a sample through multi-stage cluster random sampling. Social Support for Exercise Survey, Adolescent Motor Competence Questionnaire, Physical Activity Questionnaire, Intation to Exercise Questionnaire, Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale were used. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation test and path analysis at a significant level (P<0.05). The results showed that the variable of parents' social support of physical activity affects all four endogenous variables (physical activity, tendency to exercise, enjoyment of physical activity and the level of physical activity) and perceived motor competence, physical activity enjoyment and tendency to exercise variables, can also predict the level of physical activity as mediating variable. Also, the variable of enjoyment of physical activity indirectly through the mediating variable of tendency to exercise, was able to predict the level of physical activity. The results of this study highlight the importance of the role of parental social support in increasing adolescent physical activity.