The Relationship Between Physical Self-Efficacy and VO2 max in Healthy Weight Versus Overweight Female Adolescents in Tehran

Purpose: Overweight or obese children and adolescents face a lack of confidence in their physical abilities, and show poorer motor and fitness performances, compared to healthy weight peers. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical self-efficacy and VO2 max in healthy weight versus overweight female adolescents. Methods: This was a cross-sectional correlational study. The relationship between physical self-efficacy and aerobic capacity was examined in 60 Healthy Weight (HW) and 60 Overweight (OW) adolescent girls with a sedentary lifestyle in Iran. They were selected through cluster sampling method. The participants filled out a physical self-efficacy questionnaire developed by Ryckman et al. and underwent a treadmill progressive running test to determine their maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) using a gas analyzer system. Independent t test was used to analyze data regarding between-group differences, whereas Fisher Z test was used to compare the calculated Pearson correlation coefficient between both outcome measures of OW vs. HW participants. SPSS version 24 was used for data analysis. Results: The results indicate that HW girls have higher physical self-efficacy, perceived physical ability and physical self-presentation confidence (P≤0.01). In addition, they have higher VO2  max (t=11.72, df=118, P=0.001). Results also show a significant positive relationship between the maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) and physical self-efficacy in both groups (HW: r=0.77, P=0.001; OW:r=0.64, P=0.001), with a significantly stronger association found in the HW adolescent girls (z=2.21, P=0.03). Conclusion: The findings confirm that OW adolescent girls have a significantly lower physical self-efficacy and poor performance on Bruce treadmill test; therefore, the special attention should be paid to psychological factors in the prevention of obesity in adolescence.