Quality of Life and Physical Activity among University Students

Abstract

This study was to investigate the physical activity (PA) and quality of life (QoL) of sports department students (SDS) and other department students (ODS) attending university. A total of 300 university students participated in this study. 150 SDS (age; 20.67±1.65 years) including 89 males and 61 females and 150 ODS (age; 19.45±1.22 years) 56 males and 94 females. To determine the physical activity levels, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short and Quality of Life questionnaire-short form (WHOQOL-BREF) were applied. The weekly physical activity scores of SDS and ODS were 5386.24 ±3528.47 MET-min/week and 1616.85±1249.12 MET-min/week respectively and statistically difference was found (p<0.001). QoL levels and physical, psychological, social relations and environmental parameters of SDS were found to be higher than ODS and statistically significant (p <0.001). In comparison with the genders, the total average PA score of men was found as 4938.86 ± 3919.33 MET-minute/week while that of women was found as 2592.44 ± 2276.82 MET-minute/week. In the QoL parameters, only the social relations of men were higher than women, and a statistically significant difference was found (p <0.001). In university students, it was found that as the PA scores increased, QoL levels also increased and there was a positive relationship between them. Students should be encouraged to do sport in their spare time to improve their QoL levels.

Physical Activity and Quality of Life of University Students, Their Parents, and Grandparents in Poland—Selected Determinants

“…Scientific research has repeatedly shown the positive impact of physical activity on quality of life, such as in university students. The increased physical activity resulted in an improved quality of life [ 17 ]. At the same time, some studies do not confirm any relationship between a very high level of physical activity for students and their quality of life and self-esteem, with some papers highlighting the combined influence of other factors, such as gender, age, and marital status [ 25 , 26 ].…”

“…Those currently participating in physical recreation (81.7%) had positive attitudes towards physical education lessons (88.1%). They showed higher physical activity compared to all Poles (just over 70%) [ 17 , 34 ]. The positive attitudes of parents and grandparents likely encouraged interest in physical activity and sports activities among the surveyed students.…”

“…Many studies confirm the negative impact of age on people’s quality of life, but the social, intellectual, and physical activity of older adults, while engaging in activities for the benefit of the local environment, brings a positive increase in quality of life, especially in the physical and social fields [ 17 , 29 , 30 , 48 ].…”

“…It should be emphasized that physical activity needs to accompany a person throughout their life, which is why it is so important to promote physical culture not only among children, but also among adolescents, because it provides the basis for the continuation of healthy behaviors in adulthood [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 12 ]. When examining the quality of life of healthy adults, it may be concluded that physical activity is not only strictly related to physical condition, but also to mental condition [ 7 , 8 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ].…”

“…Although the abovementioned definition of health according to the WHO clearly refers to quality of life, research on this subject was initiated relatively recently; in the 1990s, systematic studies in this field started to be undertaken [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. It is known from today that these studies should take into account, among others, the degree of satisfaction with health and family life, social relations, professional life, education, and specialization or universal standards affecting the quality of life in the local community, which the authors have pointed out in this study [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ].…”