Social Influences on Physical Activity Behavior
Summary
Social influences shape physical activity through the attitudes, behaviours and expectations of peers, family and wider communities. Social support in its various forms—emotional encouragement, instrumental assistance and co-participation—facilitates active lifestyles by enhancing motivation and reducing barriers. Social norms and health locus of control inform beliefs about one’s ability to engage in exercise and the perceived approval of key referents. Self-efficacy emerges as a critical mediator linking social inputs to behavioural outcomes. Observational learning and modelling contribute to habit formation, as individuals adopt the practices of valued role models. Thus, interventions harnessing social networks, whether through peer-led programmes, family-based encouragement or community initiatives, can amplify the reach and sustainability of physical activity. Such strategies hold promise for addressing global declines in exercise, improving population health and reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases. Tailoring approaches to cultural and developmental contexts ensures relevance and effectiveness.
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Social Influences on Physical Activity Behavior publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in social influences on physical activity behavior across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Social support: Emotional, informational and practical assistance provided by others to encourage physical activity.
Social norms: Shared expectations about acceptable behaviours within a group or community.
Self-efficacy: Belief in one’s capacity to organise and execute actions necessary to achieve specific performance goals.
Health locus of control: Degree to which individuals believe their health outcomes are determined by their own actions or by external forces.
References
- Social Support and Self-Efficacy as Mediators between Internal Locus of Control and Adolescents’ Physical Activity. Sustainability (2023).
- Adherence to physical activity recommendations and associations with self-efficacy among Norwegian adolescents: trends from 2017 to 2021. Frontiers in Public Health (2024).
- Physical Activity and Habitus: Parental Support or Peer Support?. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2023).
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