The Current Health Belief of Exercise Conditions of Chinese College Students and Ways of Improvements: An Analysis Based on the Health Belief Model

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to discuss the differences in the parameters of exercise health beliefs among college students of different genders, and assess the relationship between demographic factors and parameters of exercise health beliefs, and examine the relationship between exercise self-efficacy and internal components of exercise health beliefs. A total of 313 Chinese college students from the Sichuan University of Arts and Science completed the exercise health belief scale voluntarily under the tutor’s explanation. The results showed that compared with female students, male students have higher perceived benefits and self-efficacy of exercise and lower perceived subjective and objective barriers. Monthly family income has a significant positive correlation with exercise self-efficacy and a negative correlation with perceived subjective barriers to exercise disorder. Exercise self-efficacy has a positively correlated with perceived benefits and perceived severity and a significant negative correlation with perceived subjective and objective barriers. From the structural equation model, we found that family income no longer significantly impacted exercise self-efficacy. Within the exercise health belief items, we found only that there were negative relationship between perceived subjective barriers and exercise self-efficacy. According to the study, our findings provide a new psychological angle for understanding the exercise condition of college students and the restraining factors and provide new insights into increasing exercise self-efficacy to lower the subjective barriers to exercise. Future studies will focus on evaluating the relationship between exercise health belief components and college Students’ physical activity levels and exercise behaviors.

Exercise health belief model mediates the relationship between physical activity and peer support among Chinese college students: A cross-sectional survey

“…The factor load analysis of the measurable variables included: perceived benefits (3 measurable variables were 0.761, 0.839, and 0.711, respectively), perceived subjective barriers (2 measurable variables were 0.690, and 0.630, respectively), perceived objective barriers (3 measurable variables were 0.711, 0.645, and 0.697, respectively), exercise self-efficacy (4 measurable variables were 0.720, 0.827, 0.662, and 0.654, respectively), perceived severity (3 measurable variables were 0.693, 0.832, and 0.732, respectively), and cues to action (3 measurable variables were 0.735, 0.850, and 0.791, respectively). The above data showed that the scale had good reliability, which was consistent with the conclusion of our previous research report ( Gong and Sheng, 2022 ).…”

“…The participants’ age, sex, BMI (body mass index), and monthly family income were counted and scored. Our previous study detailed the rules ( Gong and Sheng, 2022 ).…”

“…Our previous research structured a new scale based on the HBM; we verified the reliability and validity of the exercise health belief model and explored the relationship between the internal components of the model. Further factors can be used to explain PA’s impact on college students ( Gong and Sheng, 2022 ). Exercise self-efficacy and perceived barriers are the two most essential elements in the model.…”

Effects of physical health beliefs on college students’ physical exercise behavior intention: mediating effects of exercise imagery

“…At the same time, the peak-end rule argues that when people experience something, all they remember is the experience at the peak and the end [ 59 , 60 ]. Recent studies have shown that groups with different health beliefs produce different health behaviors, and groups with the same health beliefs also have different health behaviors, which may be due to differences in individuals’ behavioral tendencies [ 61 , 62 ]. Knowledge-Attitude/Belief-Practice(KAP) theory suggests that human behavior is related to cognition, values, and beliefs and that establishing health beliefs is a critical component in promoting physical exercise behavior [ 63 ].…”

Gender differences in barriers to physical exercise among university students studying physical activity and sports sciences

“…These barriers seem to remain as they transition to university life, with lack of time, skills and energy being the most common barriers (Bisquert Bover et al, 2020; Blanco Ornelas et al, 2019; Gómez-López et al, 2010; Ramírez-Vélez et al, 2014; Seitz et al, 2020; Sevil Serrano et al, 2017; Thomas et al, 2019). Such differences can be found in university students from many countries, making this a universal issue (Bisquert Bover et al, 2020; Blanco Ornelas et al, 2019; Chaabane et al, 2021; Chaabna et al, 2022; Edelmann et al, 2022; Gong and Sheng, 2022). Conversely, some studies have not found significant gender-based differences in barriers to physical activity among university students (Chan, 2014; Frederick et al, 2022; Mondaca et al, 2020; Rodríguez-Romo et al, 2009).…”