Exercise Self-efficacy, Exercise Perceived Benefits and Barriers among Students in Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences

The objective of this study was to determine self efficacy, perceived benefit/ barriers to exercise of students in Hormozagan University of Medical sciences (HUMS).

This was a cross-sectional study. Using stratified sampling, 350 current students of HUMS were studied from November to December 2007 in Bandar Abbass, Iran. Data regarding self efficacy, perceived benefits/barriers to exercise among participants were assessed through Exercise self efficacy scale and Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale. Data were analyzed by SPPS version 13.

In all, the data of 249 participants with mean age of 21.7 ± 2.7 were analyzed. Among them 65 participants (26.5%) including 36 girls and 30 boys were doing physical activity. Mean scores of self efficacy, perceived benefits, perceived barriers were 23 ± 7.1, 96 ± 12.5 and 31.9 ± 6.1, respectively. There were statistically significant relationship between self efficacy and perceived barriers with physical activity (P<0.05).

This study revealed perceived barriers such as insufficient time, money and also tiredness due of exercise could decrease physical activity. However perceived self-efficacy and encouraging by friends and family members have a key role of doing regular physical activities.