Influencing Factors of the Back Care-related Behavior Among Female Schoolchildren: A Structural Equation Modeling

Background: Back pain is one of the most important public health problems that is on the rise among theschoolchildren’s population. The aim of this study was to determine cognitive factors related to back carerelatedbehavior based on the social cognitive theory (SCT) among female schoolchildren.Methods: A cross-sectional study was directed among ۵th-grade female students through a conveniencemethod. Structured questionnaire data were collected from ۶۱۰ students attending public elementaryschools in Tehran, Iran from October ۲۰۱۸ to March ۲۰۱۹. The initial model was formulated based onthe SCT. Based on these data, the hypothesized model was confirmed via a structural equation modelinganalysis using SPSS (version ۲۴.۰) and LISREL (version ۸.۸۰).Results: The skills (r = ۰.۷۳, t-value = ۱۳.۴۲), self-efficacy (r = ۰.۸۷, t-value = ۱۵.۵۱), and expectation beliefs(r = ۰.۶۱, t-value = ۶.۶۸) were verified as key cognitive factors that cause a back behavior. Finally, variousindicators such as comparative fit index, normed fit index, and root mean squared error of approximationdemonstrated the fitness of the models (P < ۰.۰۰۰۱).Conclusion: The results showed that those schoolchildren having more self-efficacy, skills, and expectationbeliefs are more likely to do proper back behavior. In this regard, school-based back pain preventioninterventions should further focus on predefine key cognitive factors that consider the potential changestrategies.

Keywords:

Social cognitive theory , Back-care behavior , Schoolchildren , Structural equation modeling