Assessing Physical Activity Behaviors in College Students PDF Download

Author: Joshua James Ode
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : College students
Languages : en
Pages : 334

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Author: Jeffrey J. Milroy
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : College students
Languages : en
Pages : 106

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"Engaging in physical activity is a critical part of an individual's life and can be the precursor for well-being and a method of disease avoidance. Yet, many American college students fail to engage in adequate amounts of physical activity during their daily lives. To compound the issue, little has been published regarding physical activity promotion practices on American college campuses. The aims of this dissertation are twofold. The first aim of this dissertation will be to provide a review of literature that will (1) highlight various determinants of physical activity among American college students; (2) provide rationale for promoting physical activity during the college years; (3) present a review of student physical activity promotion programming on American college campuses; (4) summarize the results of the review and provide direction for future research and practice. The second aim of this dissertation will be to describe a qualitative investigation into physical activity promotion practices conducted on UNC system campuses and provide recommendations for future research and practice. "Pub Med," a collection of databases for articles from medical and health-related journals, was used to identify appropriate literature for the first aim of the dissertation. Search terms included: physical activity, promotion, college, college students, campus, intervention, programming, environment, and policy. Studies that included promotion programs for the general public were not included nor were any policies implemented by non-college affiliated organizations. This review of literature uncovered 14 published articles from 1999 to 2008 related to physical activity promotion on American college campuses. Results of the literature review suggest that of the studies attempting to promote physical activity among college students, most target intrapersonal factors and provide little evidence regarding the effects of institutional, community or policy factors on physical activity behaviors of college students. Furthermore, additional research is needed to assess the effects of scientifically established determinants of physical activity on college student behaviors. Finally, results of this review underscore the need for continued research that will provide a comprehensive understanding of how physical activity promotion on a college campus is currently accomplished. To accomplish the second aim of this dissertation, participants were recruited from North Carolina's multi-campus university system. Nonprobabilistic purposive sampling followed by snowball sampling was conducted to identify a total of 22 semi-structured interview participants across 15 state universities located in North Carolina. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim into a word document and subsequently uploaded into NVivo 8 qualitative software for analyses. The qualitative investigation into student physical activity promotion on University of North Carolina multi-campus system campuses lead to the uncovering of several key findings. First, participant responses suggest that there is currently an unspecified definition of physical activity promotion. Second, it was uncovered that most efforts to promote physical activity to students do not target scientifically established determinants of physical activity outside of intrapersonal level determinants. In addition, descriptions of current physical activity promotion practices provided by participants made evident the limited use of a social ecological approach to promote physical activity among college students. Ultimately, these findings lead to the development of several recommendations for both research and practice including the establishment of a standard definition of physical activity promotion for university practitioners as well as continued research regarding the effects of targeting social ecological factors on physical activity behaviors of students."--Abstract from author supplied metadata.

Author: Committee on Physical Activity and Physical Education in the School Environment
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309283140
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 503

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Physical inactivity is a key determinant of health across the lifespan. A lack of activity increases the risk of heart disease, colon and breast cancer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, osteoporosis, anxiety and depression and others diseases. Emerging literature has suggested that in terms of mortality, the global population health burden of physical inactivity approaches that of cigarette smoking. The prevalence and substantial disease risk associated with physical inactivity has been described as a pandemic. The prevalence, health impact, and evidence of changeability all have resulted in calls for action to increase physical activity across the lifespan. In response to the need to find ways to make physical activity a health priority for youth, the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Physical Activity and Physical Education in the School Environment was formed. Its purpose was to review the current status of physical activity and physical education in the school environment, including before, during, and after school, and examine the influences of physical activity and physical education on the short and long term physical, cognitive and brain, and psychosocial health and development of children and adolescents. Educating the Student Body makes recommendations about approaches for strengthening and improving programs and policies for physical activity and physical education in the school environment. This report lays out a set of guiding principles to guide its work on these tasks. These included: recognizing the benefits of instilling life-long physical activity habits in children; the value of using systems thinking in improving physical activity and physical education in the school environment; the recognition of current disparities in opportunities and the need to achieve equity in physical activity and physical education; the importance of considering all types of school environments; the need to take into consideration the diversity of students as recommendations are developed. This report will be of interest to local and national policymakers, school officials, teachers, and the education community, researchers, professional organizations, and parents interested in physical activity, physical education, and health for school-aged children and adolescents.

Author: Miriam Catalina Avila Martinez
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Background/Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the mental health and wellbeing of college students, as well as behaviors such as physical activity. Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC) calls upon universities and colleges to promote physical activity as a vital sign of health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reach and effectiveness of the virtual EIM-OC campaign and its effects on college students' physical activity behaviors and selected social cognitive theory (SCT) variables. As a secondary aim, we also assessed physical activity behavior and barriers among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted an online baseline survey at the end of September 2020 and a follow up survey at the beginning of November 2020. A total of 469 K-State students (n = 362 females; n = 82 kinesiology majors) completed the baseline survey, and 337 of these participants completed the follow-up survey. Throughout October (EIM-OC month), K-State conducted a variety of virtual events to promote physical activity on campus, including Lunch and Learn presentations by Kinesiology faculty, weekly physical activity challenges, a monthlong Bingo challenge, daily social media posts, and a Distinguished Lecture Series presentation. Changes in physical activity and SCT variables (self-efficacy, self-regulation, outcome expectations, and perceived community support) from baseline to follow-up were assessed using parametric and non-parametric tests. Results: Of the 337 individuals who completed the follow up survey, 97 (28.8%) said they had heard of EIM-OC month at K-State. Kinesiology students were significantly more likely to have heard of EIM-OC than non-Kinesiology students ([chi]2 = 129.8, p

Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Body mass index
Languages : en
Pages :

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This study explored the relationship between a variety of health behaviors and life satisfaction in college students. University students (N=794) enrolled in a midwestern university during the Fall, 2006 and Spring, 2007 semester, completed an online Health Behavior Assessment designed to measure body mass index (BMI), frequency of physical activity behavior, fruit and vegetable consumption, sleep behavior, alcohol use, frequency of use of stress-management skills, stage of change for physical activity, stage of change for fruit and vegetable consumption, stage of change for frequency of stress-management skills, and life satisfaction. As predicted, significant correlations were found between life satisfaction and BMI, frequency of physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, and frequency of use of stress- management skills. Students who regularly received 6-8 hours of sleep showed higher levels of life satisfaction. Students in the maintenance stage of change for physical activity behavior and stress-management skill use were found to have higher levels of life satisfaction compared to individuals in earlier stages of change. Results indicated that increased life satisfaction is related to a variety of health behaviors in college students.

Author: Arthur Stone
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0195178718
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 411

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The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has designated the topic of real-time data capture as an important and innovative research area. As such, the NCI sponsored a national meeting of distinguished research scientists to discuss the state of the science in this emerging and burgeoning field. This book reflects the findings of the conference and discusses the state of the science of real-time data capture and its application to health and cancer research. It provides a conceptual framework for minute-by-minute data capture- ecological momentary assessments (EMA)- and discusses health-related topics where these assessements have been applied. In addition, future directions in real-time data capture assessment, interventions, methodology, and technology are discussed.Despite the rapidly growing interest in the methodology of real-time data capture (e.g. journal special issues, widely attended conference presentations, etc.), to date no single book has focused solely on this topic. The volume will serve as an important resource for researchers, students, and government scientists interested in pursuing real-time health research, and will nicely complement our lists in epidemiology, public health, and oncology.

Author: Rulan Shangguan
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 374

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The purpose of this project was to examine college students’ physical activity awareness in relation to their knowledge and physical activity levels, as well as the factors influencing their awareness. The secondary purpose was to develop and validate an instrument for measuring college students’ physical activity awareness. Three studies were conducted sequentially using a mixed-method approach. The first study used a phenomenological perspective to understand college students’ physical activity experience through focus group interview, concluding with four proposed domains that captures college students’ physical activity awareness including: personal physical activity level, social support, environment, and recommendation knowledge. In addition, the results indicated a lack of self-assessment in personal physical activity and awareness of physical activity recommendations. The second study involved multiple phases for instrument development. Participants for the content validity study were 10 experts in the field of physical activity and health. Items with unacceptable agreement (i.e.

Author: American College of Sports Medicine
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
ISBN: 1469832720
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 300

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Based on the latest scientific research findings, ACSM’s Behavioral Aspects of Physical Activity and Exercise lays the theoretical foundation of behavior change and then provides specific strategies, tools, and methods to motivate and inspire clients to be active, exercise, and stay healthy. Developed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and written by a team of leading experts in exercise science and motivation, this highly practical book provides step-by-step instructions to help fitness/health professionals and students master motivation techniques that have proven successful in helping clients adhere to an exercise program.

Author: Gregory Knell
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : College students
Languages : en
Pages : 42

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Author: Mohammed Alshehri
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : College students
Languages : en
Pages : 336

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Introduction. International students in the United States have nearly doubled in number over the last decade and now account for more than five percent of all college students. Upon moving to the US, many students adopt unhealthy dietary and physical activity behaviors, perhaps related to a lack of familiarity and social support. This cross-sectional study assessed the impact of social support on international college students' dietary and physical activity behaviors. Methods. International students (n = 318) enrolled in one of five public universities in a Midwest state completed a comprehensive survey assessing self-reported eating habits, physical activity behaviors, and perceived social support, using the Social Support for Eating Habits and Exercise scales, the Starting the Conversation (STC) scale, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Comparisons were made to explore the impact of perceived social support on international students' dietary and physical activity behaviors. Results. Region of origin and family's social support for discouraging healthy eating habits both significant predictors of poor eating habits. For every one unit increase of family social support that discouraged healthy eating habits (ranging from 5 to 25), there was a 0.14 unit increase in the STC scale (ranging from 8 to 24, wherein higher numbers represent less healthy diets). Additionally, region of origin, academic level, and friends' social support for exercise were each significant predictors of physical activity behaviors. Friends' support for exercise was positively associated with higher total physical activity Metabolic Equivalents of Task (MET) counts; for every one unit increase of friends' social support for exercise (i.e., ranging from 5 to 50), there was an 81.1 METs-minutes/week increase in total physical activity MET count. Friends' social support for exercise was a significant predictor of participants' physical activity levels (i.e., inactive, minimally active, and health enhancing physical activity "HEPA"), with increasing support associated with higher likelihood of HEPA compared to inactivity. Discussion. Transitioning to the United States may have negative impacts on international students' dietary and physical activity behaviors. We found that international students' unhealthy eating habits increased when their families discouraged healthy eating habits. Additionally, we found that increased levels of friends' social support for exercise was associated with increased physical activity MET counts and physical activity levels. As university administrators and wellness programs continue to explore interventions promoting positive health behaviors among international students, they should consider including elements that focus specifically on friendship social support as a motivating factor for increasing physical activity behaviors as well as including family members to increase social support for healthy eating habits.