The Influence of Source and Type of Support on College Students' Physical Activity Behavior

Social Support and Physical Activity in College and University Students: A Meta-Analysis

Although physical activity (PA) has a profound impact on health, many college and university students are still physically inactive. There is some evidence to suggest that social support (SS) could impact the PA levels of students, but the internal relationship and specific effects are not very clear. The purpose of this review was to determine the strength of the relationship between SS and PA and examine whether any potential associations differed in terms of age, gender, and region among college and university students. Studies were identified using the following electronic databases: PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and Sociological Abstracts. Moderator analyses investigating the effects of students' age, gender, and region (nation) were performed. This review included 19 articles. The results showed total SS was significantly associated with PA (r = 0.30, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.22, 0.37], p < .001). With respect to different types of support, friend support was more strongly associated with PA than family support. Gender factors had a significant moderating effect on the correlation between SS and PA (QM = 17.433, p < .001). Separate analyses examining the moderating effects of gender (percentage of females) found that the association between SS and PA was stronger with the increase in female percentage. In conclusion, SS is an important factor associated with PA levels and should foster SS within intervention programs according to types of SS and gender differences to increase PA levels among college and university students.

The relationship between physical activity and the health of primary and secondary school teachers: the chain mediating effects of body image and self-efficacy

BACKGROUND

Active health is a new concept, model, and system to maintain the state of whole-person health. In the context of the increasingly serious health problems of primary and secondary school teachers, it is of great significance to explore the relationship between physical activity and primary and secondary school teachers' health based on the active health perspective.

METHODS

The survey involving 741 primary and secondary school teachers across representative provinces in China utilized the International Physical Activity Scale, Body Imagery State Scale, and General Self-Efficacy Scale. Data analysis employed SPSS 25.0 and Amos 24.0 software.

RESULTS

While no significant gender disparities were observed in body image and self-efficacy, age groups exhibited a bipartite and "V" shaped distribution. Female teachers demonstrated higher physical activity levels (2456.46) and superior physical fitness compared to males (2297.86). A positive correlation emerged between physical activity, body image, self-efficacy, and health status. Importantly, body image and self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between physical activity and health status, accounting for 82.31% of the total effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary and secondary school teachers have real problems such as teachers' physical activity is generally insufficient, teachers' body image status is generally poor, and teachers' self-efficacy is low; physical activity is an important factor in promoting primary and secondary school teachers' health status, and low, medium, and high levels of activity all have a promoting effect on the health of primary and secondary school teachers, and the more active primary and secondary school teachers are in terms of physical activity, the better their body image, self-efficacy, and health status are, and the more active primary and secondary school teachers are in terms of physical activity, the more positive the physical activity, self-efficacy, and health status are. The more physically active primary and secondary school teachers are, the better their physical intention, self-efficacy and health status are.

SUGGESTIONS

improve the quality and effectiveness, promote the concept of active health among teachers; empower teachers, strengthen the institutional protection of teachers' health; reduce the burden and increase the quantity,and optimise the supply of health services for teachers.

The utility of university fitness facilities: Environmental vs. psychological determinants of their use

OBJECTIVE

It is important for college students to engage regularly in physical activity. While psychological factors, such as motivation, are likely to increase attendance at fitness facilities, positive perceptions of the fitness facility (e.g., the type of classes offered) might also influence use of a fitness facility.

PARTICIPANTS

Data were collected from 462 college students.

METHODS

Participants completed a survey that included an assessment of commitment and motivation to exercise, life satisfaction, and perceptions of the environment of the fitness facility they use. They also answered questions about fitness facility preferences.

RESULTS

Commitment and motivation to exercise were associated with use of a fitness facility. Perceptions of the environmental context of the fitness facility did not influence attendance.

CONCLUSIONS

Even though college students shared some preferences (e.g., workout space and lighting), psychological factors were more influential than the environment of a fitness facility with regard to attendance.

The Effect of Social Support on Social Media on Asian College Students' Intention to Participate in Physical Activity in the United States

Background

College students who identified themselves as Asians in the United States (i.e., Asian college students) are facing health inequalities and engaging in increasingly low levels of physical activity (PA). Although social support was found to be effective in increasing college students' PA and social media is an important channel for social support for Asian students, few studies have explored how to provide social support through social media interventions to promote Asian students' PA level. Thus, this study aimed to explore the effects of social support on social media on Asian college students' intention to participate in PA based on the theory of planned behavior.

Methods

We conducted an online Qualtrics survey among all undergraduate students at a university on the West Coast of the United States. Among 936 respondents, 337 (36%) were Asian college students. Descriptive analysis, regression models, and mediating effect tests were performed using SPSS 28.

Results

For Asian students, social support on social media has both direct effects and indirect effects through perceived behavioral control (PBC) on their intention to participate in PA.

Conclusion

Future interventions could consider encouraging Asian students to provide support to each other and form support groups using social media to increase their PBC.

Factors contributing to gender inequities in physical activity and campus recreation facility use

Examine college women's perceptions of factors contributing to gender inequities in physical activity and campus recreational facility use.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with female undergraduate students at a large university located in the Northeast of the United States. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analyses using the socio-ecological model as a conceptual framework.

Women (N = 18; 6 non-Hispanic White, 5 Black, 7 Asian American; 20.6 ± 1.2 years old) cited intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental factors impacting their physical activity and campus recreation facility use due to their gender. Built environmental factors included facility proximity, facility layout and equipment, and crowdedness. Male peers impacted women by making them feel uncomfortable/intimidated and harassed. Intrapersonal factors included a perceived lack of skills/competence/knowledge, lack of confidence, and self-consciousness.

Findings demonstrate the need for institutions to implement and enforce policies that achieve a cultural shift in the social environment to provide equitable physical activity participation opportunities.

I'll be there for you: The effects of exercise engagement on social support provision within undergraduate students' personal networks

Objective: To use social network analysis to examine exercise participation relative to health and wellness support provision within students' networks. Participants: 513 undergraduates from a large private university completed online surveys. Methods: Multilevel modeling assessed exercise engagement at the individual and dyadic level and support provision from network members. Results: More support was perceived by first and second-year students and individuals who reported more exercise engagement. Significant others, roommates, siblings, female network members, and those who exercised often provided greater support. Greater support was reported when both the participant and their social tie were involved in the campus group-exercise program. Conclusion: This study suggests individual and dyadic-level exercise was related to undergraduates feeling more supported. Findings support campus group exercise programs as opportunities to create reciprocal supportive ties for college students. Future research could further explore ways exercise and social support, particularly in group settings, affect health and well-being.

DANCE SPORTS INFLUENCE FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ PHYSICAL HEALTH IN ETHNIC UNIVERSITIES

ABSTRACT Introduction Ensuring healthy growth with high cultural quality in the population is an important part of Chinese revitalization. University students, as a group of high cultural quality, have the mission and responsibility entrusted by the state and the people. It is believed that these goals can be achieved by using sports dance, which has a wide range and high demands; dancers should have motor skills, physical qualities, understanding of the art of dress, and psychological balance as basic requirements. Objective To test and evaluate whether sports dance activities in physical education students are conducive to promoting students’ healthy physical development. Methods This paper examines the influence of teaching sports dance on the physical health of female college students in Ethnic Colleges and its countermeasures. It also discusses the strategies for teaching sports dance to provide viable suggestions for follow-up dance instruction. Conclusion The combination of sports and femininity in exercise has a good fitness effect, improves the artistic feelings of college women, and is conducive to the healthy development of the physical quality of college women. Level of evidence III; Analysis based on alternatives and limited costs.

Neighborhood Built and Social Environment Influences on Lifestyle Behaviors among College Students in a High-Density City: A Photovoice Study

Based on the social ecological approach, a photovoice study was conducted to explore how neighborhood built and social environments facilitate or hinder college students' lifestyle behaviors, including physical activity, active transportation, and dietary behavior. A total of 37 college students took photos about neighborhood built and social environments that may affect their physical activity, dietary behavior, and active transportation, and shared their perceptions about how neighborhood built and social environments influence their lifestyle behaviors. Our findings demonstrated that the availability and accessibility of services, school facilities, and home facilities affected physical activity and dietary behaviors among college students. Moreover, the well-developed transportation facilities and networks benefit college students' active transportation. Environments-based interventions are recommended in future research to better understand the associations between neighborhood built and social environments and lifestyle behaviors in college students.

Social contexts are related to health behaviors: mEMA findings from the SPARC study

Understanding how social context is associated with behaviors can indicate circumstances when behaviors are more likely to occur. In this study 29,995 ecological momentary assessment (EMA) surveys from 805 participants were analyzed to determine the social context of when eating, drinking, physical activity behaviors, and none of those behaviors (not eating, drinking, or being physically active, "none") occurred. Within-person results indicated that participants had lower odds of reporting eating (OR = 0.81) and drinking (OR = 0.79), and higher odds of reporting physical activity behaviors (OR = 1.20) and "none" (OR = 1.11) when they were alone, compared to when they were with friends. Within-person results also indicated that when participants were off-campus they were more physically active (OR = 1.73) and had lower odds of being reported "none"(OR = 0.78) than when they were on campus. Surprisingly, within-person results also suggested participants reported less physical activity on the weekend (OR = 0.78) than during weekdays, and instead had higher odds of reporting "none" (OR = 1.11). Between-person results suggested participants who were alone had higher odds of reporting "none"(OR = 1.64). When stratified by demographics the findings were similar. These findings show that student behaviors are different when they are alone vs. not, and that social context matters when understanding student behaviors. Interventions aimed to improve dietary intake and promote physical activity may be more effective if a social context aspect is included in their design.

Assessing the stress-buffering effects of social support for exercise on physical activity, sitting time, and blood lipid profiles

OBJECTIVE

This study tested the hypothesized stress-buffering effects of social support on physical activity, sitting time, and blood lipid profiles.

PARTICIPANTS

537 college students.

METHODS

College students volunteered to self-report stress, social support for exercise, physical activity and sitting time, and provided blood samples to assess lipid profiles in this cross-sectional study.

RESULTS

Lower stress was associated with higher vigorous physical activity (β = -0.1, t = -2.9, p = .004). Higher social support was associated with higher moderate (β = 0.2, t = 2.0, p = .042), vigorous (β = 0.5, t = 5.4, p < .001), and total (β = 0.1, t = 3.2, p = .001) physical activity, and lower sitting time on weekdays (β = -0.1, t = -3.3, p = .001) and weekends (β = -0.2, t = -3.6, p < .001). Social support moderated the association between stress and sitting time on weekdays.

CONCLUSIONS

Stress reduction and fostering social support may be important strategies for promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviors in college students. Additional strategies are needed to buffer the deleterious effects of stress.

Where Do Online Games Fit into the Health Behaviour Ecology of Emerging Adults: A Scoping Review

Online video games are a common pastime for emerging adults (EAs). EAs are an age group that is of interest in health communication because habits formed during this life stage can cause or prevent disease later in life. Guided by three research questions, this scoping review identifies the current state of research into socio-ecological influences on physical activity and diet behaviours of EAs. The review also examines the role that online video games play within this behavioural ecology. In total, 112 articles were found that focused on behavioural ecological influences for physical activity and diet behaviour among EAs. Seven of these articles focused on the impact of online video games, although only in conjunction with their influence on physical activity, identifying a gap in understanding the influence of online games on diet. Results show that online video games are currently under-researched in terms of impacts on physical activity and diet despite the prevalence of the use of these games within the EA cohort.

The Influence of Social Support Specific to Physical Activity on Physical Activity Among College and University Students: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Starting college or university is a significant life event that can impact students' physical activity (PA). Social support specific to PA (SSPA) is a social determinant of PA among college and university students. This review had 3 aims: (1) to systematically review studies examining the association between SSPA and PA among students; (2) to examine whether potential associations differed in terms of types or sources of SSPA; and (3) to examine whether any potential associations differed in terms of gender.

METHODS

Studies were identified using Academic Search Premier, PsycInfo, Sociological Abstracts, and SPORTDiscus.

RESULTS

This review included 25 papers. The results suggested that there is a positive association between SSPA and PA among college and university students. Although the importance of different sources of SSPA is not clear, the results suggested that family and friends provide significant SSPA.

CONCLUSIONS

High variability in measurement methods made it difficult to compare studies and to come to a clear consensus. However, the findings suggested that SSPA may be a determinant of PA. In order to better understand the relationship between SSPA and PA among students, some elements, such as gender, socioeconomic level, and off- or on-campus housing, should be considered in future studies.