Psychological Pathways Linking Multidimensional Family Environment Factors to Adolescent Physical Activity: The Sequential Mediation of Self-Efficacy and Intrinsic Motivation

Abstract

Background: Associations between different dimensions of the family environment and adolescent physical activity (PA) may differ, yet empirical evidence on these differences remains limited. This study aimed to clarify the mechanism of this path difference and further explore the functional roles of self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation.
Methods: A three-wave longitudinal study was conducted among 913 Chinese adolescents, who completed measures of family environment (home PA equipment availability [HPEA], home electronic device availability [HEDA], perceived parental autonomy support [PPAS], and perceived parental exercise habits [PPEH]), self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation, and PA. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed using maximum likelihood estimation with robust standard errors (MLR) to examine the mediating effects.
Results: The prospective associations between all family environment dimensions (T1) and PA (T3) were significantly mediated by intrinsic motivation (T2), as well as by the sequential mediation pathway via self-efficacy (T2) and intrinsic motivation (HPEA, PPAS, PPEH: bs = 0.015–0.063, 95% CI [0.004, 0.095]; HEDA: bs = −0.039 to −0.014, 95% CI [−0.065, −0.004]). Conversely, the independent indirect effect of self-efficacy (T2) and the direct effects of PPAS (T1) and PPEH (T1) were not significant (95% CIs included zero). Significant direct effects on PA (T3) were found for HPEA (T1) (b = 0.058, 95% CI [0.001, 0.116]) and HEDA (T1) (b = −0.067, 95% CI [−0.117, −0.017]).
Conclusions: Association patterns between different dimensions of the family environment and PA vary. Intrinsic motivation plays a key role, being partly driven by self-efficacy as an important antecedent.