The relationship of physical activity and health-related quality of life in college students

The problem of this study was to examine the relationship between physical activity patterns and health-related quality of life in college students. A non-experimental, cross-sectional survey design was used to address the problem of the study. Four-hundred-eighty-nine students enrolled in Health Science 160, "Fundamentals of Human Health," participated in the study. The 12-item instrument consisted of an assessment of physical activity patterns and health related quality of life (HRQoL), as well as demographic questions.Data were analyzed using two different statistical techniques. Chi-square tests were used to determine differences between those participants that met CDC physical activity recommendations and those who did not meet the recommendations with regards to the following variables: age, sex, class standing, enrollment status, race/ethnicity, academic major, and self-rated health. T-tests were used to determine if the aspects of HRQoL (i.e., physical unhealthy days, mental unhealthy days, activity limited days, and the Healthy Days Index) were significantly different between the activity groups.The results indicated that those who met the recommended levels of physical activity were more likely to rate their health good, very good, or excellent. They also had significantly fewer mentally unhealthy days and activity limited days, and more healthy days based on the Healthy Days Index. Those who did not meet the recommendations were more likely to rate their health fair or poor. Age, race/ethnicity, sex, class standing, being a full-time student, and being enrolled in a health-related major were not significantly associated with meeting physical activity standards.Department of Physiology and Health ScienceThesis (M.S.