Physical activity with regard to socio-demographic variables and decisional balance perceptions for exercise among university students

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to find out participation time in physical activity with regard to some socio-demographic variables and decisional balance perceptions for exercise among university students. Material and methods: Eight hundred twenty six male and 928 female, a total of 1754 volunteer university students (Mage= 20.83; SD = 1.64 years) participated in this study. Demographic information form, Turkish version of International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, Habitual Physical Activity Assessment Questionnaire, and Turkish version of Decisional Balance Scale for Exercise were used to collect the required data. Results: The students’ participation in physical activity (total duration-hours/week) in a week was examined and the result was significantly in favor of male students when genders were compared (p<0.001). No significant difference was observed in the duration of physical activity between students with different levels of parental education (p>0.05). The rates of the students who engaged in sport activities within the previous month, with mothers, fathers and close friends participating in regular sport activities were 25.1%, 22.3%, and 36.0%, respectively. Also, the rates of the students who did not engage in sport activities within the previous month, with mothers, fathers and close friends not participating in regular sport activities were 85.5%, 84.9%, and 89.5%, respectively. Two (gender) x 3 (physical activity level) MANOVA revealed significant gender (p<0.05) and physical activity level (p<0.01) differences in decisional balance perceptions for exercise. Follow-up analysis of variance indicated gender (p<0.09) and physical activity level (p<0.001) differences in only perceived pros scores for exercise in favor of female and physically more active students. Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that, it was determined that the male students’ total duration of physical activity was higher than that of the female students’. Parental education level does not impose any change in the physical activity participation duration of the students. The female students and highly physically active students had higher pros scores for exercise. © JPES