The influence of social support on physical activity of urban empty-nest elderly： Mediating effect of self-efficacy and moderating effect of the Internet use XIE Jin
(School of Teacher Education，Taizhou University，Taizhou 317000，China)
Abstract: To explore the relationship between social support, self-efficacy and physical activity of urban empty-nest elderly, and the moderating effect of Internet use among them, so as to provide reference for formulating strategies to improve physical activity of urban empty-nest elderly. The questionnaire survey was conducted among 1 670 empty-nest elderly aged over 60 in urban community by using the related maturity scale. The result shows that: (1) social subjective support, objective support and support utilization have significant positive effects on self-efficacy and physical activity of urban empty-nest elderly; (2) self-efficacy has a significant positive effect on the physical activity of urban empty-nest elderly, and also plays a mediating role in the process of social support on the physical activity of urban empty-nest elderly; (3) Internet use plays a moderating role in the relationship between social support and the self-efficacy and physical activity of urban empty-nest elderly, that is, as the level of Internet use increases, the direct effects of social support on the self-efficacy and physical activity of the urban empty-nest elderly are gradually enhanced. The study extends the role range of social support on physical activity behavior, and suggests that while enhancing the overall level of social support of empty-nest elderly, strengthening their active digital inclusion can better promote their physical activity participation.
Keywords: urban empty-nest elderly；social support；physical activity；self-efficacy；the Internet use