Physical Activity Behaviors, Motivation, and Self-Efficacy among College Students.

Abstract

Despite the well documented benefits of an active lifestyle, lack of physical activity is a significant health problem in college students. The purpose of this descriptive study was to attain baseline physical activity behaviors, motivation factors, and self-efficacy levels to assist with developing tailored physical activity programs and interventions targeted for young adults on a college campus. Eight hundred and seventy-one undergraduate students completed the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire, Exercise Motivation Inventory-2, and an exercise self-efficacy questionnaire to assess physical activity behavior, motivation, and self-efficacy respectively. Males engaged in more minutes per session of vigorous and moderate intensity physical activity than females. Approximately 18% of the participants did not participate in any vigorous or moderate physical activity. Women were more motivated by weight management, appearance, nimbleness, positive health, and stress management, and men were motivated by performance and ego-oriented factors, such as challenge, strength and endurance, competition, affiliation, and social recognition. Males reported significantly higher levels of coping and scheduling self-efficacy for physical activity than females. The data suggests a continued need for physical activity promotion and practitioners may need to consider gender when developing physical activity interventions for college students. Keywords: physical activity, motivation, self-efficacy, college students ********** Physical activity has received considerable attention for its role in the prevention and treatment of disease. To maintain health the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association recommend engaging in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity on five or more days per week, or 20 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity three or more days per week, or a combination of the two (Haskell et al., 2007). The benefits of a physically active lifestyle are well documented and can lead to improvements of physiological and psychological health [United States Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), 1996]. For example, engaging in regular physical activity can lower the risk of early death, heart diseases, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, adverse blood lipid profile, colon and breast cancer, prevention of weight gain, and the metabolic syndrome (USDHHS, 1996). In addition, physical activity provides positive effects on mental health and mood such as reduced depression and anxiety, positive well-being, enhanced vigor, and better cognitive function [USDHHS, 1996; Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 2011]. In summary, physical activity is considered by many national and global authorities to be one of the most important activities individuals can regularly do to improve health (National Physical Activity Plan, 2001). In spite of the well-establish benefits of physical activity, rates of everyday and planned physical activity have been on the decline (Caspersen, Pereira, & Curran, 2000; USDHHS, 2000). Research shows many American adults do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity (Caspersen et al., 2000; USDHHS, 2000). Data from the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (BRFSS) indicated only 48.8% of the respondents met the Healthy People 2010 objectives for physical activity. Studies regarding the physical activity behaviors of college students found approximately 35% to 42% of students fail to obtain the recommended amount of physical activity (Miller, Staten, Rayens, & Nolan, 2005; Racette, Deusinger, Strube, Highstein, & Deusinger, 2005) Physical activity participation statistics indicate a significant decline in physical activity in the 18-24 year old age group (Caspersen et al., 2000). The physical activity rates of high school students appear to be higher than college students (Grunbaum et al. …