Interpersonal antecedents of physical activity habits among Chilean adults: A cross-sectional study on the mediating roles of behavioral frequency and self-efficacy

Physical inactivity is highly prevalent in Latin America and contributes significantly to preventable deaths in Chile. This study examined whether perceived social support and descriptive norm for physical activity (PA) were indirectly associated with habit strength through PA self-efficacy and behavioral frequency. A convenience sample of 528 Chilean adults completed self-report measures, and hypotheses were tested using Structural Equation Modeling. Results showed that PA self-efficacy and behavioral frequency sequentially mediated the positive relationship between perceived social support and PA habit strength ( β = 0.016, SE = 0.007, p = 0.014, 95% CI = [0.003–0.029]). Additionally, descriptive norm was indirectly related to PA habit strength via behavioral frequency ( β = 0.107, SE = 0.039, p = 0.006, 95% CI = [0.031–0.184]). These findings highlight the role of interpersonal factors in PA habits and offer guidance for the development of more effective PA promotion strategies in Chile.