Self-efficacy, beliefs, and goals: Moderation of declining physical activity during adolescence.

Objective: To examine whether the decline in physical activity observed from childhood through adolescence is explained by moderating effects of self-efficacy on concurrent changes in children’s goals and beliefs about their physical activity environments. Method: Latent growth modeling was used in longitudinal tests in a cohort of 79 boys and 108 girls assessed in 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, and 11th grades. Results: Physical activity measured...