Predicting Physical Activity and Healthy Nutrition Behaviors Using Social Cognitive Theory: Cross-Sectional Survey among Undergraduate Students in Chongqing, China

Abstract

(1) Background: Generally suggested public health measures to reduce obesity were to limit television (TV) viewing, enhance daily physical activities, enable the consumption of fruit and vegetables, and reduce sugar-sweetened beverage intake. This study analyzed the extent to which selected social cognitive theory constructs can predict these behaviors among Chinese undergraduate students. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1976 undergraduate students from six universities in Chongqing, China. A self-administered five-point Likert common physical activity and nutrition behavior scale based on social cognitive theory was utilized. (3) Results: This study included 687 (34.77%) males and 1289 (65.23%) females. A total of 60.14% of the students engaged in exercise for less than 30 min per day. Approximately 16.5% of the participants spent at least 4 h watching TV and sitting in front of a computer daily. Approximately 79% of the participants consumed less than five cups of fruit and vegetables daily. Undergraduate students who had high self-efficacy scores had more leisure time physical activities. Those who have high expectation scores had considerable time watching TV and sitting in front of a computer. Undergraduate students who had high expectation and self-efficacy scores had substantially low consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Those who had high self-efficacy scores consumed considerable amounts of fruit and vegetables. Furthermore, the type of university, BMI group, gender, age, lack of siblings, and grade level were associated with the aforementioned four behaviors. (4) Conclusion: Physical inactivity and unhealthy nutrition behaviors are common among undergraduate students. This study used social cognitive theory to provide several implications for limiting the TV viewing, enhancing daily physical activities, consuming fruit and vegetables, and reducing sugar-sweetened beverage intake among undergraduate students.

Correlates of sedentary behaviour in Asian adults: A systematic review

“…For working Saudi women, having more children was associated with less total SB . The number of siblings and the exercise behaviour of family members were not associated with screen time …”

“…Dog owners accumulated less total SB time while pet ownership was not associated with screen time . Finally, being at a higher grade in university was associated with more screen time …”

“…Signing up for a government‐based medical insurance scheme was not associated with leisure‐time SB in rural Chinese . Similarly, nationality was unrelated to screen time in Chinese students …”

“…The study by Koyanagi et al that used the same sample as in the studies above reported positive associations for low energy and negative affect with SB. Higher expectations to accumulate little screen time were positively associated with screen time in Chinese students …”

“…Urban residence was unrelated to occupational and transport‐related SB based on one study from Oman, while it was positively associated with leisure‐time SB according to one Chinese study . Results related to screen time were mixed: positive association in older Chinese adults, no association in Omanis, and Chinese students …”