Physical Activity Determinants of Female Teachers in Rasht County, Iran; Applying the Social Cognitive Theory

Aims: Inactivity among Iranian women is higher than in Iranian men. Since teachers are exposed to occupational damages, it is necessary to consider physical activity in teachers. The Social-Cognitive Theory (SCT) is a useful framework for understanding physical activity behavior. Therefore, the present research was aimed to determine physical activity determinants in female teachers based on SCT. Instrument & Methods: This analytic-cross sectional study was performed on ۶۱۲ female schoolteachers of all educational levels of urban and rural areas of Rasht County using multi-stage random sampling in the ۲۰۱۹- ۲۰۲۰ academic years. The data collection instruments included demographic information, International Physical Activity Questionnaire– Short Form, and Social Cognitive Theory Questionnaire. In order to analyze the data, I used Independent Samples t-test, Analysis of Variance, Spearman Correlation Coefficient, and Multiple Linear Regression tests in SPSS ۲۱ software. Findings: The age average of the teachers was ۴۰.۲۵±۷.۶۵. Of the total, ۳۳۱ teachers (۵۴.۱%) had light physical activity (۰-۵۹۹ MET minutes/week). It observed the most direct correlation between self-efficacy (r=۰.۴۳۹) and exercise planning (r=۰.۵۱۳) with physical activity behavior. Constructs of exercise Planning (B=۰.۳۴, p=۰.۰۰۱) and Self-Efficacy (B=۰.۱۴, p=۰.۰۰۳) were the most significant predictors of physical activity and accounted for ۱۷% and ۱۲% of the variance, respectively. Conclusion: Constructs of exercise Planning and Self-Efficacy were the most important predictors of physical activity that can be used in designing interventions to promote physical activity in teachers.

Keywords:

Social Cognitive Theory , Physical activity , School Teachers , Health Education , نظریه شناختی اجتماعی , فعالیت بدنی , معلمان زن , آموزش بهداشت