Effect of Changes of Outcome Expectations on Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Ratings: A Test of Hypothetical Incentives Among Mothers of Young Children

Previous research suggests that traditional self-efficacy measures may be flawed because they also measure motivation via outcome expectations. One way of manipulating outcome expectations is through the introduction of an incentive for doing a behavior. No study has examined whether self-efficacy ratings for physical activity (PA) can be influenced by an incentive. The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether PA self-efficacy ratings can he affected by an incentive. Mothers with at least 1 child under 5 years of age (N = 152) completed an online survey. Participants indicated current PA level, affective and instrumental attitudes, and self-efficacy for general regular moderate and vigorous intensity PA and two specific PA behaviors with high difficulty (jumping over a 2-m fence, bench pressing 200 pounds) before and after considering a hypothetical financial incentive. Dependent t tests showed self-efficacy ratings for general PA and both specific behaviors were much higher postincentive, with PA ratings increasing to a greater degree. Steiger's z tests demonstrated that PA self-efficacy without an incentive was also more highly correlated with affective attitude and vigorous PA than was self-efficacy with an incentive. This study demonstrates that traditional self-efficacy measures are far too sensitive to outcome expectations and are therefore not valid assessments of capability.