Longitudinal relationships between two self-efficacy types and stress in active older adults in Taichung City, Taiwan

Abstract Self-efficacy has recently become a topic of interest in mental health research. We examined the relationships among physical activity (PA) self-efficacy, general self-efficacy, and stress through the longitudinal study design. In the first year (Y1), 322 older adults who lived in Taichung City, Taiwan, participated in our study. Two years later (Y2), 161 of them again responded to the same questionnaire, which included PA self-efficacy, general self-efficacy, and stress scales. The questionnaire data were analyzed through hierarchical regression analysis. We observed that PA self-efficacy was significantly and positively correlated with general self-efficacy and that both were significantly and negatively correlated with stress at Y1 and Y2. Therefore, enhancing PA self-efficacy can be an effective element of programs designed to reduce stress in older adults.