Qualitative interview procedures

Introduction

The purpose of this review is to investigate effects of physical activities on US adolescents’ self-efficacy. I began with reading at articles related to current situations of adolescents’ health. I then discuss the articles stated about physical activities and psychological functioning. I concluded in-depth studies of the self-efficacy levels correspond to physical activities.

Grasp the Present Situation of U.S. Adolescents’ Physical Health

The US is facing a national childhood obesity crisis, and that is greatly attributed to the fact that they do little no physical activity. According to a survey conducted in 2007-2008, 30% of children and adolescents in the United States were found to be overweight. These results were an indication that their body mass was greater than the 85 percentile (Azóia & Dobreiro, 2010). There are many young Americans who suffer from chronic diseases associated with obesity even before they reach adulthood. Even though obesity is brought about by a variety of factors, an individual can be able to realize weight loss by making major adjustments in his or her diet and behavioral activities. Health behavior modifications are paramount for one to sustain weight loss (Manley, 2008).

Technocrats in the health sector have had varied arguments on the role played by physical education on students. More recent reviews point out to an overwhelming role played by physical exercise on guaranteeing physical and mental wellbeing of the youths. Apart from the specialists’ reports, many other institutions and government agencies alike have linked proper physical exercise to an incredible mental and general healthy growth among school-going age bracket youth.

There has been a tremendous change in the general lifestyle of most youths in America and the world over. This is evident in the fashion sense, the living status as well as other day to day interactions including leisure management (Harrell et al, 2003). According to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHNES), the number of cases health complications arising from poor lifestyle, devoid of physical activities, is a major scare to a healthy living among the youth.

Risk of Disease and Prevention

Poor nutrition is one of the major factors that heavily and most dominantly associated with the heath complication that affect the young people.

According to Matthews et al (2015), an incredible majority of the youth who barely engage in any physical activity and who have poor diet are at the risk of mental and multitude of chronic diseases that are manifested in adulthood. According to the government statistics on healthcare and child development, it is increasingly alarming that the foods consumed by the young generation today calls for constant exercise as a way of eliminating the toxins that accumulate within the body as a way of excreting the waste products.

Divisions of Nutrition and Physical Activity and Adolescent and School Health of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Constellate Group, the youth in this era have not adequately utilized their leisure time to get the best shapeup of their health standards by stepping up their involvement in physical activities (Liu et al, 2013). By engaging in physical activities the individuals can easily curb the prevalence of chronicle diseases which are the mostly deadly diseases in the world.

Connection between Physical Activities and Health Behavior

Physical exercise documented as an aid to individuals struggling with chronic diseases. Some of the chronic illnesses include diabetes, cancer, and obesity that can be controlled by physical exercises. According to medics, the lack of regular activities leads to preventable diseases that also contribute to psychological instability. Unfortunately, it is evident that the adolescents have an inactive lifestyle that adds up their stresses and leave them prone to chronic diseases (Delisle et al, 2010). There is a deep connection between physical activities and healthy behavior. However, it is not one set of practice but a sequence of healthy choices for an individual to have a healthy lifestyle. It is apparent that the frequency, duration and intensity of the physical activities demonstrate psychological well-being. Physical activities are essential for the physical and the psychological well-being of an individual. The adolescents need to exercise regularly to avoid stress or preventable chronic diseases.

Improving Psychological Functioning by Physical Activities

Exercises and other physical activities are essential not just for the physical well-being but also for the psychological health of a person. According to research, the adolescents require physical activities for a better functioning. Arguably, it is a therapeutic exercise that leads to better functioning (Kalak et al, 2012). As a result, exercise is often introduced as therapeutic intervention even in the midst of conflicts. Stress is also a leading psychological challenge for the modern community. Consequently, exercise leads to stress level reduction as individuals release their tension through the physical exercises. Evidently, physical exercises are therapeutic and are often introduced in a psychological setting.

Physical activities are one of the ways to improve and enhance cognitive processes. Both the young and the older adults cognitive performance can be easily improved by doing exercises .according to several research and studies , engagement of exercises and physical activities are the greatest and the best thing to do frequently since they have some benefits to an individual especially the emotional well-being (Rew et al, 2015). Some articles and studies show that the physical activities reduce depression symptoms, anxiety and they also improves mood. Statistics shows that most of the individuals who had diagnosed with major issues of depression can significantly improve if they undergo aerobic exercises.

Behavioral patterns that are initiated during childhood can positively or negatively affect the well-being and health of an individual throughout one’s life span (Steinberg, 2014). There are several health’s –promoting physical activities that individuals can engage themselves to such as games, nutritional snacks consumption and also managing trauma effectively. By engaging in this kind of activities the adolescent can be easily be protected from adverse outcome of health (Nanney, Davey & Kubik, 2013). Healthy lifestyle can be easily developed by individuals engaging themselves in health-promoting behaviors. The recent research shows that the age difference and gender differ in health-promoting behaviors. For instance, the studies show that the males are the most likely to healthy intake patterns compared to the females (Rew et al, 2015). According to the youth risk behavior survey(YRBS) shows that the males are the most likely to exhibit several health-promoting behaviors including eating more serving of fruits, vegetables, milk and also engaging themselves in physical activities compared to the females.

In-depth Study of Self-efficacy and Physical Activity

According to Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory, self-efficacy is ones’ own ability to believe that they are in a position to achieve actions that can enable them attains the desired effects. It links to the ability of an individual to achieve as well as maintain changes in their behaviors. This idea, therefore, makes it reasonable for one to anticipate that physical activities may greatly benefit from the social cognitive theory, hence, making it possible for one to evaluate how self-efficacy is affected by behavioral changes.

Self-efficacy has been described as an indication of physical activity rather than an independent outcome. Several studies have supported the fact that self-efficacy served as a potential medium within a variety of physical activity programs for children (Amnesi, 2006). There are also several researchers who have associated self-efficacy with improved health behaviors and modifications. In several studies, a significant correlation between general perceived self-efficacy and the positive effect of life satisfaction was founded (Lindgren et al, 2011). However, only a handful of the studies indicate a direct link between physical activity and self-efficacy.

References

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Azóia, N., & Dobreiro, P. (2010). Treadmill exercise and its effects on cardiovascular fitness,

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Delisle, T. T., Werch, E. C., Wong, H. A., Bian, H., & Weiler, R. (2010). Relationship between frequency and intensity of physical activity and health behaviors of adolescents. Journal of School Health, 80(3), 134-140.

Harrell, J. S., Pearce, P. F., Markland, E.,T., Wilson, K., Bradley, B. C., & McMurray, G. R. (2003). Assessing physical activity in adolescents: Common activities of children in 6th-8th grades. Journal of American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 15, 170-178.

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