Accessing physical activity among young adults attending a university: the role of sex, race/ethnicity, technology use, and sleep

Abstract

BackgroundIdentifying factors associated with recommended physical activity (PA) levels are critical in efforts to combat the obesity epidemic and related comorbidities.MethodsWe conducted cross-sectional analyses of college students (n = 490) enrolled in a large southern state university in October of 2014. Our aim was to identify sociodemographic characteristics, technology use, and sleep patterns among college students and their independent relationship to recommended PA. An online survey was sent to all enrolled students. Logistic regression predicted achieving recommended ≥150 min per week of moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA) versus not (≤149 min MVPA).ResultsApproximately 69% of study participants were males, 18% were Hispanic, and more than half (60%) were within the normal body mass index (12% were obese). The average age of students was 21 years. On a daily average, individuals used smartphones most often (nearly 4.4 h), followed by laptops at 4.0 h, desktops at 1.2 h, and tablets at 0.6 h. The mean number of hours individuals reported sleeping was 6.7. Sociodemographic factors associated with reporting ≥150 min of MVPA included being male (OR = 4.0, 95% CI 2.2–7.1) versus female, being non-Hispanic White (OR = 1.8, CI 1.1–3.2) versus being a member of minority race group. Behavioral factors associated with reporting ≥150 min of MVPA included technology use (being moderate-heavy (OR = 2.3, CI 1.1–4.8) or heavy (OR = 3.4, CI 1.6–7.5) users of technology), and receiving low-moderate (OR = 1.9, 1.01–3.7) levels of sleep versus the lowest level of sleep.ConclusionsIn the current study, minority status and being female were the strongest sociodemographic factors associated with inadequate PA levels, while high technology use (primarily driven by smartphone use) were associated with recommended PA levels. Identifying factors associated with being physically active will allow for targeted interventions to improve the health of young adults.

Comparación de los niveles de actividad física durante la vida universitaria

“…Por lo tanto, es necesario incrementar el nivel de transporte activo en los primeros años de estudios universitarios, lo que además permitiría un potencial ahorro de dinero y tiempo de traslado. Un reciente estudio señala una asociación positiva entre el uso de teléfonos móviles y el cumplimiento de las recomendaciones de actividad física 20 , como recientemente ha ocurrido con la aplicación Pokemon Go, lo cual puede ser una estrategia para incrementar los NAF 21 .…”

Biking to Academic Success: A Study on a Bike Desk Implementation at an Academic Library

“…College students are not immune to these same sedentary influences. In fact, numerous studies have been completed on the physical activity of college students (Dinger, 1999;Pauline, 2013;Soyeur, Unalan, & Elmali, 2010;Towne et al, 2017;Young, Sturts, & Ross, 2015), which have found that their respondents are not meeting the recommended levels of physical activity. Soyeur, Unalan, and Elmali (2010) attributed this to students possessing greater freedom when they begin college and having more control over their lifestyles than previously.…”

Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and psychological wellbeing among young adults in Bangladesh: A one-year prospective study

“…Though lifestyle and health-related behaviours can form or change at any stage of life, activity behaviours such as PA or SB are typically established during adolescence and young adulthood (Allan 1987;McCracken et al 2007;Towne et al 2017), and continue into adult life (Biddle et al 2010b). Understanding the factors that are associated with PA and SB is the key to effective promotion of an active lifestyle ).…”

“…Perceived social support has consistently been reported as a correlate of PA among university-based young adults(Mirzaei-Alavijeh et al 2018;Rovniak et al 2002;Yasunaga et al 2014). Being satisfied with life(Pedisic et al 2015;Rangul et al 2012), and having good psychosocial health and optimal sleep(Feng et al 2014;Towne et al 2017) have also been positively associated with young adults' PA.…”

“…Strategies to promote PA should target factors identified as significantly associated with PA in that age group and culture. Research in developed and developing countries suggest specific sociodemographic, psychological, social, and health and lifestyle correlates of young adults' PA(Kilpatrick et al 2005;Mirzaei-Alavijeh et al 2018;Pedisic et al 2015;Rangul et al 2012;Romaguera et al 2011;Rovniak et al 2002;Seo et al 2009;Shuval et al 2009;Towne et al 2017;Yasunaga et al 2014). University-based young adults' PA is positively associated with socio-demographic correlates such as male gender(Seo et al 2009;Shuval et al 2009), increased age(Romaguera et al 2011), and high maternal education level(Romaguera et al 2011).…”