ABSTRACT
Objective@#To investigate the impact of physical self-efficacy on physical activity and physical health among university students, so as to provide insights into formulation of the strategy to improve physical activity and physical health among university students.@*Methods@#Freshmen and sophomores were sampled from a university in Guangzhou City using a convenience sampling method from December 2021 to April 2022. Students' demographics and types of sport exercises were collected using questionnaire surveys. Physical self-efficacy was tested using the Physical Self-efficacy Scale, and physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short, while physical health was evaluated using the school physical health standard test. The associations of physical self-efficacy with physical activity and physical health were examined using a multivariable logistic regression model. @*Results@#Totally 4 171 questionnaires were allocated, and 3 811 valid questionnaires were recovered, with a effective recovery rate of 91.37%. The respondents included 1 582 males (41.51%) and 2 229 females (58.49%), and included 1 967 freshmen (51.61%) and 1 844 sophomores (48.39%). The median score of physical self-efficacy was 36 (interquartile range, 7) points, and there were 1 777 students reaching the national standard of physical activity (46.63%) and 1 112 students with excellent and good physical health (29.18%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that physical self-efficacy was a promoting factor for the proportion of reaching the national standard of physical activity (OR=1.054, 95%CI: 1.043-1.064) and excellent and good physical health (OR=1.109, 95%CI: 1.096-1.122) after adjustment for gender, grade, specialty and source of students. @*Conclusion@#The improvement of physical self-efficacy may increase the proportion of reaching the national standard of physical activity and excellent and good physical health among university students.