Stress and Exercise in Undergraduate Health Professions Students

Background: Stress is prevalent among undergraduate students, especially students in health professions majors. Exercise as a health promoting behavior decreases stress. At the same time, increased stress may decrease exercise. This study described exercise and stress among undergraduate health professions students. More specifically this study described the intensity and duration of each exercise and the frequency of exercise during a typical week of the semester for students in health professions majors. Theoretical framework: Pender’s Health Promotion Model guided this study. Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive survey. Methods: A convenience sample of 437 undergraduate students in a college of health professions (N =2,700) at a Midwest public university completed an electronic survey and reported stress and exercise during one typical week (a regular academic week without mid-term exams, final exams, or breaks) of the semester. Data analysis plan: Descriptive statistics described the sample, exercise habits, and presence of stress. Keywords: stress, exercise, undergraduate student, Health Professions Research Question: What are the stress and exercise habits in undergraduate health professions students during one typical week of the semester