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Physical Activity Habits and Determinants, Sedentary Behaviour and Lifestyle in University Students

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  • Aida Carballo-Fazanes

    (Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela-CHUS, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
    CLINURSID research group, Psychiatry, Radiology, Public Health, Nursing and Medicine Department, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain)

  • Javier Rico-Díaz

    (Faculty of Education Sciences, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain)

  • Roberto Barcala-Furelos

    (Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela-CHUS, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
    REMOSS research group, Faculty of Education and Sport Sciences, University of Vigo, 36005 Pontevedra, Spain)

  • Ezequiel Rey

    (REMOSS research group, Faculty of Education and Sport Sciences, University of Vigo, 36005 Pontevedra, Spain)

  • José E. Rodríguez-Fernández

    (Faculty of Education Sciences, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain)

  • Cristina Varela-Casal

    (REMOSS research group, Faculty of Education and Sport Sciences, University of Vigo, 36005 Pontevedra, Spain)

  • Cristian Abelairas-Gómez

    (Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela-CHUS, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
    CLINURSID research group, Psychiatry, Radiology, Public Health, Nursing and Medicine Department, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
    Faculty of Education Sciences, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain)

Abstract

University students, as a result of their lifestyles, represent a section of the population that is most likely to adopt sedentary behaviours. The aim of the present study was to analyse the determining factors dictating the performance of physical activity as well as sedentary behaviour among university students. A total of 608 students (64.6% women) from the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) were selected by stratified random sampling to take part in the study, which involved completing a questionnaire on lifestyle and physical activity. Of the participating students, 69.6% indicated that they performed physical activity; the main reasons given were to maintain fitness and for health, while a lack of time and laziness were the principal reasons given for abandoning or not taking up physical exercise. Significant associations were established between not doing physical activity and the time exposed to screens, time studying, feeling low and smoking; on the other hand, associations could be seen between doing physical activity and the participation of relatives (parents, mothers, partners, older siblings and friends) in physical activity, as well as a positive sense of satisfaction relating to physical education taught in schools. In conclusion, most of the university students did some physical activity, which was associated with less sedentary behaviour, while the influence of school physical education and of the habits of relatives played an important role.

Suggested Citation

  • Aida Carballo-Fazanes & Javier Rico-Díaz & Roberto Barcala-Furelos & Ezequiel Rey & José E. Rodríguez-Fernández & Cristina Varela-Casal & Cristian Abelairas-Gómez, 2020. "Physical Activity Habits and Determinants, Sedentary Behaviour and Lifestyle in University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:9:p:3272-:d:355173
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Raluca Mariana Dragoescu, 2013. "An overview of higher education at the European level," Computational Methods in Social Sciences (CMSS), "Nicolae Titulescu" University of Bucharest, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 1(2), pages 21-29, December.
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    3. Walid El Ansari & Reza Oskrochi & Ghollamreza Haghgoo, 2014. "Are Students’ Symptoms and Health Complaints Associated with Perceived Stress at University? Perspectives from the United Kingdom and Egypt," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-22, September.
    4. Jacinto García-Fernández & José Rafael González-López & Ángel Vilches-Arenas & María de las Mercedes Lomas-Campos, 2019. "Determinants of Physical Activity Performed by Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-11, October.
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