The perception on physical activity among students

Abstract

Background and Study Aim. Questionnaires are useful tools for assessing the level of physical activity in the general population due to their brevity, ease of understanding, and ease of application. The aim of our study is to subjectively assess the physical activity of participants using the self-report scale of the Godin–Shepard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire. Material and Methods. The study involved 299 undergraduate and graduate students from Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava (Romania). In their academic activities, they typically engage in between 4 and 6 hours of practice. Additionally, many respondents participate in various physical activities, totalling another 4 to 8 hours of physical activity per week. The questionnaire consists of three questions regarding the level of physical activity (intense, moderate, low). It aims to collect data for the past 7 days for each physical activity lasting at least 15 minutes. Results. The intergroup analysis of the data showed statistical significance in the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for three out of six analyzed situations: graduate males versus graduate females, undergraduate males versus undergraduate females, and graduate males versus undergraduate males (p < 0.001). In the study, data concerning the level of physical activity among students were collected. Data analysis showed that over 80% (240 out of 299) of the respondents are moderately active or active. Statistically significant differences were observed only by study level and gender. While there was a notable difference of 10 points between males and females, it did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions. We can conclude that physical activity is an important aspect of students' daily routines. However, awareness programs are necessary to encourage them to remain physically active. These programs also promote the benefits of physical activity for physical, mental, and social well-being, as well as overall quality of life.