Open AccessDeterminants of Physical Activity among Jordanian University Students
Author(s) -
RN khaldoun M Hamdan,
RN Abeer M Shaheen
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
research in health science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2470-6213
pISSN - 2470-6205
DOI - 10.22158/rhs.v4n3p191
Subject(s) - physical activity , psychology , self efficacy , physical exercise , scale (ratio) , regression analysis , affect (linguistics) , cross sectional study , gerontology , physical therapy , medicine , clinical psychology , social psychology , computer science , physics , communication , pathology , quantum mechanics , machine learning
Study Purpose: The purposes of this study were to examine the relationships between university students’ physical activity, self-efficacy and perceived benefits and barriers to exercise, and to identify predictors of physical activity among university students.Methods: A cross-sectional design was used in this study. A translated version of Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale and Exercise Self-efficacy Scale were used to collect study data. A convenience sample of 517 university students participated in the study. Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data.Results: Exercise self-efficacy demonstrated the highest positive correlation with physical activity (r=0.31, p<0.001) followed by exercise benefits (r=0.24, p<0.001). Exercise barriers were negatively correlated with physical activity. Exercise self-efficacy and exercise benefits significantly predicted physical activity among university students. Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that exercise self-efficacy and perceived benefits of exercise affect university students’ participation in physical activity.