The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy in the Relationship Between Perceived Social Support and Motivation to Participate in Physical Activity

Year 2026, Volume: 35 Issue: 1 , 55 - 63 , 16.04.2026

İsmail Keleş , Ercan Aras , Ramazan Cihad Yılmaz

https://doi.org/10.34108/eujhs.1769403

https://izlik.org/JA43SG27GU

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between perceived social support and motivation to participate in physical activity among university students. The research was conducted with 528 students studying at a state university located in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Türkiye. Data were collected online using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Motivation for Participation in Physical Activity Scale. Correlation analysis and Hayes’ PROCESS Model 4 mediation analysis were employed to analyze the data. The findings revealed that perceived social support significantly and positively predicted motivation to participate in physical activity both directly and indirectly through self-efficacy. Self-efficacy plays a partial mediating role in the effect of social support on motivation. In conclusion, it was found that the perception of social support strengthens individuals’ self-efficacy beliefs, thereby enhancing their motivation to participate in physical activity. In line with these results, it is emphasized that future studies should consider perceived social support and self-efficacy together. The results reveal that social support plays a significant role in strengthening individuals' attitudes toward physical activity. Furthermore, perceived social support increases individuals' self-efficacy beliefs, thereby enhancing their motivation to participate in physical activity.

Keywords

Perceived social support , physical activity , self-efficacy , university students

Algılanan Sosyal Desteğin Fiziksel Aktiviteye Katılım Motivasyonu ile İlişkisinde Öz-Yeterliliğin Aracılık Rolü

https://izlik.org/JA43SG27GU

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, üniversite öğrencilerinde algılanan sosyal destek ve fiziksel aktiviteye katılım motivasyonu arasındaki ilişkide öz-yeterliğin aracılık rolünün incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırma, Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi’nde bulunan bir devlet üniversitesinde öğrenim gören 528 üniversite öğrencisi ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Veriler çevrim içi olarak toplanmıştır. Veri toplamada Çok Boyutlu Algılanan Sosyal Destek Ölçeği, Genel Öz-Yeterlik Ölçeği ve Fiziksel Aktiviteye Katılım Motivasyonu Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde korelasyon ve Hayes’in PROCESS Model 4 aracılık analizi uygulanmıştır. Bulgular, algılanan sosyal desteğin fiziksel aktiviteye katılım motivasyonunu hem doğrudan hem de öz-yeterlik aracılığıyla anlamlı ve pozitif olarak etkilediğini göstermiştir. Öz-yeterlik, sosyal desteğin motivasyon üzerindeki etkisinde kısmi aracılık rolü oynamaktadır. Sonuç olarak, sosyal destek algısının bireylerin öz-yeterlik inançlarını güçlendirerek fiziksel aktiviteye katılım motivasyonunu artırdığı ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu sonuçlar doğrultusunda, ileride yapılacak çalışmalarda sosyal destek ile öz-yeterliğin birlikte ele alınmasının önem taşıdığı vurgulanmıştır. Sonuçlar, sosyal desteğin bireylerin fiziksel aktiviteye yönelik tutumlarını güçlendirmede önemli bir rol oynadığını ortaya koymaktadır. Dahası, algılanan sosyal destek, bireylerin öz yeterlilik inançlarını artırarak fiziksel aktiviteye katılma motivasyonlarını güçlendirmektedir.

Keywords

Algılanan sosyal destek , fiziksel aktivite , öz yeterlilik , üniversite öğrencileri

References

• Strain T, Flaxman S, Guthold R, et al. National, regional, and global trends in insufficient physical activity among adults from 2000 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 507 population-based surveys with 5,7 million participants. Lancet Glob Health. 2024;2(8):1232-1243. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X (24)00150-5
• World Health Organization. Physical activity. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity. Published October 19, 2022. Accessed August 10, 2025.
• Seguin-Fowler RA, Marshall GA, Eldridge GD, et al. Association between physical activity, psychosocial factors, and the built environment in rural adults. J Phys Act Health. 2025;23(2):274-282. doi:10.1123/jpah.2025-0325
• Yam AZ, İşeri ET. Algılanan sosyal destek ile sosyal yeterlik ve sosyal sonuç beklentisi arasındaki ilişki: Eğitim fakültesi öğrencileri üzerine bir araştırma. Uluslararası Türk Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi. 2019;7(13):51-66. doi: 10.46778/goputeb.619951
• Shen B, Centeio E, Garn A, et al. Parental social support, perceived competence and enjoyment in school physical activity. J Sport Health Sci. 2018;7(3):346-352. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2016.01.003
• Hu D, Zhou S, Crowley-McHattan ZJ, Liu Z. Factors that influence participation in physical activity in school-aged children and adolescents: a systematic review from the social ecological model perspective. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 2021;18(6): 3147. doi:10.3390/ijerph18063147
• Teixeira PJ, Carraça EV, Marques MM, et al. Successful behavior change in obesity interventions in adults: A systematic review of self-regulation mediators. BMC Med. 2015;13(1):84. doi:10.1186/s12916-015-0323-6
• Laksmiwati ED, Tondok MS. Perceived Social Support, Academic Self-Efficacy, and Anxiety among Final Year Undergraduate Students: A Mediation Analysis. Bulletin of Counseling and Psychotherapy. 2023;5(2):173-183. doi:10.51214/00202305514000
• Han N, Won M. Association between social support and physical activity in patients with coronary artery disease: Multiple mediating roles of self-efficacy and autonomous motivation. Healthcare. 2022;10(3):425. doi:10.3390/healthcare10030425
• Erol B, Erol H. Physical activity barriers and facilitators in elderly individuals: Traditional review. Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Gerontology. 2023;2(1):17-26. doi:10.5336/jgeront.2023-97035
• Toptaş Böcü T, Başer D. Sosyal yardım başvurusunda bulunan bireylerin psikolojik belirti düzeyleri ile algıladıkları sosyal destek arasındaki ilişkinin belirlenmesi. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet. 2023;34(1):19-44. doi:10.33417/tsh.1103495
• Demirer İ, Erol S. The relationships between university students’ physical activity levels, insomnia and psychological well-being. J Psychiatr Nurs. 2020;11(3):201-211. doi:10.14744/phd.2020. 46547
• Iraz R, Arıbaş A, Özşahin F. Algılanan sosyal destek ve psikolojik iyi oluş ilişkisi: Üniversite öğrencileri örneği. Stratejik ve Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi. 2021;5(2):363-76. doi:10.30692/sisad. 930302
• Yıldız E, Koçak O. Üniversite öğrencilerinde sosyal medya bağımlılığı ve algılanan sosyal destek arasındaki ilişkinin değerlendirilmesi. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet. 2020;31(3):1102-1126. doi:10.33417/tsh.681389
• Yiming Y, Shi B, Alghamdi AA, Kayani S, Biasutti M. Social support and self-efficacy as mediators between internal locus of control and adolescents’ physical activity. Sustainability. 2023;15(7):5662. doi:10.3390/su15075662
• Schunk DH, DiBenedetto MK. Motivation and social cognitive theory. Contemp Educ Psychol. 2020;60:101832. doi: 10.1016/j.cedpsych.2019.101832
• Tao Y, Xu T, Wang X, et al. The relationships between emerging adults’ self-efficacy and motivation levels and physical activity: a cross-sectional study based on the self-determination theory. Front Psychol. 2024;15:1342611. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1342611
• Meuleman EM, van der Veld WM, Laceulle OM, van der Heijden PT, Verhagen M, van EeE. Youth perceived social support and symptom distress: a random-intercept cross-lagged panel model. J Youth Adolesc. 2024;53(1):117-129. doi:10.1007/s10964-023-01859-7
• Creswell JD, Lindsay EK. How does mindfulness training affect health? A mindfulness stress buffering account. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2014;23(6):401-407. doi:10.1177/096372141454741
• Bandura A. Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall; 1986.
• Sallis JF, Owen N, Fisher EB. Ecological models of health behavior. In: Glanz K, Rimer BK, Viswanath K, editors. Health behavior and health education: Theory, research, and practice. 5th ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass; 2016. p. 43-64.
• Bandura A. Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: W.H. Freeman; 1997.
• Yurtçiçek Eren S, Şahin N, Miral M, et al. Gender-specific physical activity level and quality of life among white-collar workers. The Journal of Academic Social Science. 2023;144:257-267. doi:10.29228/asos.71212
• Erdoğan R, Tel M, Yıldırak A, et al. Ortaokul ve lise düzeyinde öğrenim gören öğrencilerin fiziksel aktivite durumlarının incelenmesi. The Journal of Social Sciences. 2024;63(63):56-68. doi:10.29228/sobider.68717
• Aypay, A. Adaptation study of General Self-Efficacy Scale to Turkish. Inonu University Journal of the Faculty of Education. 2010;11(2):113-131.
• Tekkurşun Demir G, Cicioğlu Hİ. Fiziksel aktiviteye katılım motivasyonu ölçeği (FAKMÖ): Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması. International Journal of Human Sciences. 2018;15(4):2479-2492. doi:10.14687/jhs.v15i4.5585
• Eker D, Arkar H, Yaldız H. Factorial structure, validity and reliability of the revised form of the multidimensional perceived social support scale. Türk Psikiyatri Dergisi. 2001;12(1):17-25.
• Hayes AF. Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach. New York: The Guilford Press; 2014. doi:10.1111/jedm.12050
• Preacher KJ, Hayes AF. Contemporary approaches to assessing mediation in communication research. In: Hayes AF, Slater MD, Snyder LB, editors. The Sage sourcebook of advanced data analysis methods for communication research. Thousand Oaks: Sage; 2008. p. 13-54.
• Tabachnick BG, Fidell LS. Using multivariate statistics. 7th ed. London: Pearson; 2019.
• Durbin J, Watson GS. Testing for serial correlation in least squares regression. In: Kotz S, Johnson NL, editors. Breakthroughs in statistics: Methodology and distribution. New York: Springer; 1992. p. 237-259. doi:10.1007/978-1-4612-4380-9_20
• Hair JF, Black WC, Babin BJ, Anderson RE. Multivariate data analysis. 8th ed. Boston: Cengage; 2019.
• Lin H, Chen H, Liu Q, Xu J, Li S. A meta-analysis of the relationship between social support and physical activity in adolescents: The mediating role of self-efficacy. Front Psychol. 2024;14:1305425. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1305425
• Pluta B, Korcz A, Krzysztoszek J, Bronikowski M, Bronikowska M. Associations between adolescents’ physical activity behavior and their perceptions of parental, peer and teacher support. Arch Public Health. 2020;78(1):106. doi:10.1186/s13690-020-00490-3
• Teixeira P, Carraça E, Markland D, Silva M, Ryan R. Exercise, physical activity, and self-determination theory: A systematic review. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2012;9(1):78. doi:10.1186/1479-5868-9-78
• Storm V, Reinwand D, Wienert J, Tan S, Lippke S. The mediating role of perceived social support between physical activity habit strength and depressive symptoms in people seeking to decrease their cardiovascular risk: Cross-sectional study. JMIR Ment Health. 2018;5(4):e11124. doi:10.2196/11124
• Kang H, Park M, Wallace J. The impact of perceived social support, loneliness, and physical activity on quality of life in South Korean older adults. J Sport Health Sci. 2018;7(2):237-244. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2016.05.003
• Wang X, Yang X, Juzaily bin Mohd Nasiruddin N, Wei S, Dong D, bin Samsudin S. Social support and physical activity in college and university students: A meta-analysis. Health Educ Behav. 2024;51(4):533-543. doi:10.1177/10901981231216735
• Gao X, Wang X, Chee CS, et al. Predictive model of the relationship between social support, body image perception, and physical activity among university students. Humanit Soc Sci Commun. 2025;12(1):1-8. doi:10.1057/s41599-025-04854-4
• Li S. The relationships among self-efficacy, social support, and self-care behavior in the elderly patients with chronic pain (a STROBE-compliant article). Medicine. 2021;100(9):e24554. doi:10.1097/md.0000000000024554
• Dong B, Zhang H, Zhu Y, Cheng Y. Influence of health beliefs, self-efficacy and social support on leisure exercise for adolescents. J Shandong Sport Univ. 2018;34:106-112. doi:10.14104/j.cnki. 1006-2076.2018.05.018
• Rush C, Hooker S, Ross K, Frers A, Peters J, Masters K. Brief report: Meaning in life is mediated by self-efficacy in the prediction of physical activity. J Health Psychol. 2021;26(5):753-757. doi:10.1177/1359105319828172
• Sutin A, Luchetti M, Stéphan Y, Terracciano A. Sense of purpose in life and motivation, barriers, and engagement in physical activity and sedentary behavior: Test of a mediational model. J Health Psychol. 2022;27(9):2068-2078. doi:10.1177/13591053211021661
• Bareket-Bojmel L, Shahar G, Abu-Kaf S, Margalit M. Perceived social support, loneliness, and hope during the COVID-19 pandemic: Testing a mediating model in the UK, USA, and Israel. Br J Clin Psychol. 2021;60(2):133-148. doi:10.1111/bjc.12285
• Öksüz E, Demiralp M, Mersin S, Tüzer H, Aksu M, Sarıkoc G. Resilience in nurses in terms of perceived social support, job satisfaction and certain variables. J Nurs Manag. 2019;27(2):423-432. doi:10.1111/jonm.12703