TY - JOUR
T1 - University Students’ Physical Activity
T2 - Perceived Barriers and Benefits to Physical Activity and Its Contributing Factors
AU - Alkhawaldeh, Abdullah
AU - Abdalrahim, Asem
AU - ALBashtawy, Mohammed
AU - Ayed, Ahmad
AU - Al Omari, Omar
AU - ALBashtawy, Sa’d
AU - Suliman, Mohammad
AU - Oweidat, Islam Ali
AU - Khatatbeh, Haitham
AU - Alkhawaldeh, Hasan
AU - Dameery, Khloud Al
AU - Alsaraireh, Mahmoud
AU - Alhroub, Nisser
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024/1/1
Y1 - 2024/1/1
N2 - Introduction: In general, undergraduate university students in the north of Jordan have a low level of physical activity. Objectives: To examine the physical activity level, perceived barriers and benefits to physical activity, and the contributing factors among university students in north of Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used, and data was collected from 235 university students through a self-reported questionnaire. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was utilized to calculate the amount of physical activity, while the exercise benefits and barriers scale (EBBS) was used to measure the perceived benefits and barriers of physical activity. Results: According to the findings, less than half of the students (48.1%) reported engaging in physical activity. Several factors were found to be significantly related to higher levels of physical activity, including being younger, single, having a normal body weight, and reporting excellent health status. Logistic regression analysis revealed that overweight (OR = −0.068, 95% CI 0.025–0.183) and obese (OR = −0.250, 95% CI 0.068–0.924) were less likely to be physically active, while those who rated their health as excellent had higher rates of physical activity (OR = 3.590, 95% CI 1.263–10.201). The students agreed most strongly with the perceived benefit item “Exercise improves the way my body looks,” while the perceived barrier item they identified most strongly with was “There are too few places for me to exercise.” Conclusion: This study provides important data for health promotion programs aimed at supporting physical activity among university students.
AB - Introduction: In general, undergraduate university students in the north of Jordan have a low level of physical activity. Objectives: To examine the physical activity level, perceived barriers and benefits to physical activity, and the contributing factors among university students in north of Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used, and data was collected from 235 university students through a self-reported questionnaire. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was utilized to calculate the amount of physical activity, while the exercise benefits and barriers scale (EBBS) was used to measure the perceived benefits and barriers of physical activity. Results: According to the findings, less than half of the students (48.1%) reported engaging in physical activity. Several factors were found to be significantly related to higher levels of physical activity, including being younger, single, having a normal body weight, and reporting excellent health status. Logistic regression analysis revealed that overweight (OR = −0.068, 95% CI 0.025–0.183) and obese (OR = −0.250, 95% CI 0.068–0.924) were less likely to be physically active, while those who rated their health as excellent had higher rates of physical activity (OR = 3.590, 95% CI 1.263–10.201). The students agreed most strongly with the perceived benefit item “Exercise improves the way my body looks,” while the perceived barrier item they identified most strongly with was “There are too few places for me to exercise.” Conclusion: This study provides important data for health promotion programs aimed at supporting physical activity among university students.
KW - barriers
KW - benefits
KW - International Physical Activity Questionnaire
KW - physical activity
KW - university students
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U2 - 10.1177/23779608241240490
DO - 10.1177/23779608241240490
M3 - Article
C2 - 38515525
AN - SCOPUS:85188280930
SN - 2377-9608
VL - 10
JO - SAGE Open Nursing
JF - SAGE Open Nursing
ER -