Transition to University and Vigorous Physical Activity: Implications for Health and Psychological Well-Being

TLDR

The study examined how vigorous physical activity and psychological well‑being change during the transition from high school to first‑year university among 145 Canadian undergraduates. Participants retrospectively reported vigorous activity during their last 2 months of high school and first 2 months of university, along with psychological well‑being measures. Only 44.1% of students met vigorous‑activity standards at university compared to 66.2% in high school, with one‑third remaining active, one‑third becoming insufficient, and a quarter consistently insufficient; students who became insufficient reported higher fatigue and lower vigor.

Abstract

The authors investigated vigorous physical activity and psychological well-being during transition from high school to first-year university in a sample of 145 Canadian undergraduates. Participants completed retrospective measures assessing vigorous physical activity during their first 2 months at university and their last 2 months at high school as well as measures assessing psychological well-being. According to nationally recommended (US Department of Health and Human Services) standards, two thirds (66.2%) of students reported adequate levels of vigorous activity in high school, whereas significantly fewer (44.1%) met the standard during their first 8 weeks at university. One third of students were active in high school but became insufficiently active once at university; 33% were active at both times; 23% consistently fell short of recommended levels; and only 11% became active once at university. Students who had become insufficiently active reported higher levels of fatigue and lower levels of vigor compared with those who continued to be active.