Physical fitness and psychological resilience develop side by side during adolescence, a life stage that lays the foundation for adult health. Cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, and agility are well-known predictors of cardiometabolic health, while self-efficacy, defined as the belief in one’s ability to overcome challenges, shapes motivation, persistence, and coping strategies.
Although both have independently been linked to healthier lifestyles and improved well-being, less attention has been given to how they may influence one another. Understanding this connection is particularly important as sedentary behaviours, screen exposure, and mental health concerns continue to rise among young people worldwide.
In this context, a research team led by Dr. José Francisco López-Gil, postdoctoral senior researcher at the School of Medicine, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Samborondón, Ecuador, investigated whether physical fitness and self-efficacy are mutually associated in adolescents.
Drawing on data from 618 boys and girls aged 12 to 17 years participating in the Eating Habits and Daily Living Activities (EHDLA) study in the Region of Murcia, Spain, the team explored whether stronger physical fitness predicts higher confidence and whether confidence, in turn, predicts better fitness performance. The study was published on February 9, 2026, in the journal Pediatric Investigation.
The researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis using validated and objective measures. Physical fitness was assessed with the Assessing Levels of Physical Activity and Fitness (ALPHA-FIT) battery, which included the 20-meter shuttle run test for cardiorespiratory fitness, the standing long jump for lower-body strength, a handgrip dynamometer for upper-body strength, a short shuttle sprint to assess speed and agility, and the sit-and-reach test for flexibility.
Self-efficacy was measured using the Spanish version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Statistical models were adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, body mass index, physical activity levels, sedentary time, sleep duration, and energy intake to ensure robust findings.
The analysis revealed modest but consistent bidirectional associations. Adolescents with higher cardiorespiratory fitness, greater lower-body muscular strength, and better speed-agility performance reported stronger self-efficacy. Conversely, those with higher self-efficacy scores tended to perform better in these same dynamic fitness domains. Flexibility and upper-body grip strength did not show clear associations.
Our findings suggest that physical capacity and self-belief are not isolated traits but interconnected elements of adolescent development. When young people experience success in physically demanding tasks, that physical mastery may strengthen their confidence, which in turn encourages further engagement.”
Dr. José Francisco López-Gil, Postdoctoral Senior Researcher, School of Medicine, Universidad Espíritu Santo
The implications extend beyond physical education classes. In the short term, integrating structured fitness programs with psychological skill-building strategies, such as goal setting, positive reinforcement, and progressive challenges, could enhance students’ motivation to remain active and resilient.
Schools may benefit from collaborations between physical education teachers, psychologists, and public health professionals to design programs that address both physical and mental dimensions simultaneously. Such interdisciplinary partnerships could also inform future longitudinal research exploring how these relationships evolve over time and across cultural contexts.
Looking ahead five to ten years, the ripple effects could be substantial. Adolescents who develop both strong physical fitness and robust self-efficacy may be more likely to sustain active lifestyles, reducing long-term risks of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
At the same time, strengthened confidence may support academic persistence, emotional regulation, and mental health.
“Adolescence is a critical window for shaping lifelong habits,” Dr. López-Gil added. “If we nurture both physical fitness and self-efficacy together, we may empower a generation that is not only healthier but also more capable of facing life’s challenges.”
In conclusion, this study highlights a reciprocal relationship between key components of physical fitness and general self-efficacy in adolescents. While the cross-sectional design limits causal inference, the consistent bidirectional associations underscore the value of holistic youth health strategies. By aligning physical training with confidence-building interventions, educators, researchers, and policymakers may help foster healthier developmental pathways that extend well into adulthood.
Source:
Journal reference:
Montenegro-Espinosa, J. A., et al. (2026). Mutual associations between self-efficacy and physical fitness in Spanish adolescents: The EHDLA study. Pediatric Investigation. DOI: 10.1002/ped4.70044. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ped4.70044.
