Abstract
In this study, we focus on a relationship between physical activity (PA) and quality of life (QOL) in a sample of 254 Czech older adults. We conducted a path analysis within a structural equation modeling framework to test a social cognitive pathway of the PA-QOL relationship.
The proposed model hypothesized indirect paths between physical activity and life satisfaction, mediated by self-efficacy and domain-specific QOL. Higher levels of PA were associated with higher self-efficacy (β=.70, p <.001).
Self-efficacy was associated with mental health (β=.25, p <.01) which was then associated with life satisfaction (β=.24, p <.001). In contrast to our original presumption, self-efficacy was only little associated with perceived physical health (β=-.04, p <.001) and perceived health status was only slightly related to life satisfaction (β = 0.07, p <0.001).
The model represented an acceptable fit to the data (CFI = 0.827, RMSEA = 0.080 [CI = 0.047 až 0.115], SRMR = 0.065), and explained 93% of variance in life satisfaction.