Diet and Physical Activity Intervention Strategies for College Students

Physical activity motives and self-efficacy to overcome physical activity barriers in first-year undergraduates: Do they differ based on physical activity levels?

Objective: Physical activity (PA) declines during the transition to university. Identifying contributing factors is imperative. Participants: Participants were first-year undergraduate students (N = 283). Methods: Participants completed validated surveys. Participants were categorized as meeting PA guidelines or not meeting PA guidelines. MANCOVA's with Bonferroni correction and Kruskal Wallis tests examined differences in PA motives and self-efficacy to overcome PA barriers across PA groups. Results: Significant multivariate effects were observed across PA groups for PA motives and self-efficacy. Univariate analyses revealed students meeting PA guidelines reported significantly higher PA motives of fitness/health management, appearance/weight management, and stress/mood management compared to students not meeting PA guidelines. Students meeting PA guidelines reported significantly higher self-efficacy for all PA barriers compared to students not meeting PA guidelines. Conclusions: Universities should prioritize education about the physical and psychological benefits of PA and teach first-year students behavioral skills to increase PA motivation, self-efficacy, and PA behavior.

The effectiveness of physical activity interventions in improving higher education students' mental health: A systematic review

Traditional interventions aiming to improve students' mental health and quality of life include meditation or canine therapy. The development of physical activity-related interventions has increased over the past decade. We aimed to review all studies using physical activity for improving the mental health and quality of life in higher education students whilst describing the interventions, measurements and effectiveness. A systematic search of six electronic databases including: ProQuest, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus and CENTRAL, was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Randomized or non-randomized controlled trial physical activity-related interventions involving higher education students aiming to improve their mental health and quality of life were included. Searches yielded 58 articles with interventions involving martial arts, sport, mind-body exercises and anaerobic exercises. Psychological measures varied across studies including the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory and the Perceived Stress Scale. Over half of the studies included in this review (n = 36) were effective in improving students' mental health or quality of life. Findings from our review suggest that interventions aiming to be effective in improving students' mental health quality of life should aim to deliver moderate-vigorous intensity exercises such as dance or Pilates. This systematic review was based on a published protocol in PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42022325975).

University students' perception of their dietary behavior through the course of the COVID-19 pandemic: a phenomenological approach

PURPOSE

The COVID-19 pandemic mandates that were imposed to curb the spread of disease may have triggered unhealthy dietary behaviors among university students. The current study aims at exploring university students' perception of their dietary behaviors through the course of the pandemic.

METHODS

The qualitative study is designed using a phenomenological framework. Using convenience and snowball sampling, nine university students were recruited in southeast Texas. Interviews were conducted using an interview guide after receiving verbal consent. The data were analyzed by thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Three themes were identified. Initially, an increase in consumption of home-cooked meals and frequency of snacking were reported which were associated with emotions including boredom, stress, and homesickness. However, as the students adapted to the pandemic, the frequency of dining and restaurant food consumption increased.

CONCLUSION

The findings highlight the urgency for educational institutions to be well-equipped in terms of nutrition assistance during times of crisis.

Application of theoretical domains framework to explore the enablers and barriers to physical activity among university staff and students: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Physical inactivity is one of the major risk factors for developing several chronic illnesses. However, despite strong evidence indicating the health benefits of physical activity, many university staff and students tend to be physically inactive. University settings provide a stable environment where behaviour change interventions can be implemented across multiple levels of change. The aim of this study is to examine the perceived barriers and enablers to physical activity among staff and students in a university setting, using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), a precursor of COM-B behaviour model.

METHODS

This was a qualitative study carried out at a Midlands University in the United Kingdom. Eight group interviews were conducted with the sample (n = 40) consisting of 6 male and 15 female university staff (mean age = 40.5 ± 10.6 years) with different job roles (e.g., academic, administrative, cleaning and catering staff), and 12 male and 7 female students (mean age = 28.6 ± 4.7 years) at different stages of study (e.g., undergraduate, postgraduate, and international students). Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and imported into NVivo12 software, responses were mapped using the TDF where theory-driven deductive content analysis was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

Six prominent domains were identified from the group interviews as enablers and/or barriers to physical activity among university staff and students: Environmental context and resources; intentions; social influences; knowledge; beliefs about capabilities; and social/professional role and identity. The themes emerging from the group interviews fit into all 14 domains of the TDF; however, 71% of the themes fit into the six most prominent domains.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that several enablers and barriers influence university staff and students' capability, opportunity, and motivation to engage in physical activity. This study, therefore, provides a theoretical foundation to inform the development of bespoke interventions to increase physical activity among inactive university staff and students.

INVESTIGATION TO EXERCISE STATUS OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN THE LATE PHASE OF THE COVID-19 EPIDEMY

ABSTRACT Introduction The outbreak of COVID-19 has changed the traditional way of teaching physical education. Objective Investigate the current status of physical exercise in college students after the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods Students from 32 colleges were interviewed, totaling 1074 valid questionnaires. Results Under the influence of the COVID-19 epidemic, many students chose their exercise methods according to their needs and environmental conditions, spontaneously completing extracurricular physical training goals healthily in a safe environment. Exercising to improve physical fitness, strengthen immunity, and minimize disruption of the COVID-19 epidemic is a common concern among students. Conclusion Most students’ activities have changed significantly, and university physical education teachers should provide tailored guidance in exercise to ensure health and safety, in addition to promoting post-workout teaching based on current needs ensuring health and safety while promoting the benefits of physical education teaching in extra-class workouts. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.

Examination of Associations between Physical Activity and Eating Identities among College-aged Adults Living in Hawai'i

While physical activity and diet behaviors are correlated, mechanisms underlying associations have rarely been examined. This study examined associations between physical activity identity and eating identity among college-aged adults in Hawai'i to provide guidance for future multiple behavior change interventions. This study was a cross-sectional analysis of data collected between September 2013 and January 2014. Participants were 40 college students attending 4-year and 2-year institutions within the University of Hawai'i system. Total physical activity identity score and dimensions were measured using the Athlete Identity Questionnaire. Eating identity subtypes were measured using the Eating Identity Type Inventory. Associations between physical activity identity total score, 4 physical activity identity dimensions (appearance, importance, competence, and encouragement), and 4 eating identity subtypes (healthy, emotional, meat, and picky) were examined using multiple linear regressions. A significant positive association was found between total physical activity identity score and the healthy eating subtype and a negative association with the picky eating subtype. The physical activity dimension importance had a significant positive association with the healthy eating subtype, appearance a negative association with the emotional eating subtype, and competence a positive association with the meat eating subtype but a negative association with the picky eating subtype. The findings suggest important overlap in identities for physical activity and diet. Measurement of physical activity identity and eating identity as well as tailored intervention strategies should be incorporated into more behavior change research.

The theory of planned behavior and strength training in college-aged women

ObjectivesUsing Theory of Planned Behavior, the objective of this study was to determine how attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavior control related to intent to strength training by college-aged women. Participants: Participants were college-aged females (N = 162) from a mid-sized private university in the Midwestern United States who were divided into three groups: non-exercisers, cardiovascular-only exercisers, and strength or strength and cardiovascular exercisers. Methods: Participants completed a questionnaire assessing attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavior control in relation to strength training behavior. MANOVA was utilized to examine the differences between groups. Results: The MANOVA was significant at p < .01. Post hoc analysis indicated strength training participation was significantly higher for non-exercisers and cardiovascular-only exercisers for the attitude and perceived behavior control constructs (p<.05) but not for subjective norm. Conclusions: Perceived behavior control and direct attitude factors may be strong contributors to college-aged women's participation in strength training.

Barriers to physical activity and markers of adiposity in university students

ABSTRACT In this study the objective was to establish the association between physical activity barriers and adiposity markers in university students. A cross sectional descriptive study was executed. Anthropometric assessment, sociodemographic data survey and physical activity barrier perception questionnaire were applied to 211 students. The most frequent barriers were lack of time, energy and free will. It was found greater value in indicators of adiposity in men and association between the barriers lack of time, skills and fear of injury, with a higher body mass index. It was found a relationship between barriers to physical activity and adiposity markers, relevant aspects in the strategies of promotion of physical activity and weight control.

Designing and evaluation of E-health educational intervention on students' physical activity: an application of Pender's health promotion model

BACKGROUND

The present study was conducted to design and evaluate the software and web-based curriculum based on Pender Model in order to promote students' physical activity.

METHODS

This is a quasi-experimental study conducted on 225 eligible students who were randomly divided into two groups of web and software-based intervention and control. The sample size of the study was selected using stratified sampling method. The evaluation was done with pre-test and post-test and follow-up, which were performed immediately two and six months following the intervention. The data were analyzed employing statistical software SPSS using descriptive statistics, chi-square, one way ANOVA, and repeated measures ANOVA.

RESULTS

The obtained results revealed that the level of physical activity after the intervention in the web and software groups significantly increased compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Moreover, the mean score of Pender model constructs, immediately two and six months after the intervention, was significantly different in the web and software groups (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our results indicated that, providing tailored message based on health promotion model's constructs has a positive effect on promoting physical activity of students.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Name: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials. Registration number: IRCT20181009041298N1 . Registration date: 2018-12-02 [retrospectively registered].

THE INFLUENCE OF PUBLIC PHYSICAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM ON COLLEGE STUDENTS' PHYSICAL HEALTH

ABSTRACT It is particularly important to improve the quality of physical education curriculum and the overall health level of college students. It is difficult to achieve a comprehensive evaluation of the original evaluation method of students' physical health level. Therefore, this study combined the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and physical fitness training mode to build a university physical health evaluation model. Taking X University as the experimental background, 20 students of different majors in grade 2019 were selected as experimental objects. One group (10 students) adopted the original physical education curriculum mode, and the other group (10 students) integrated physical fitness training into the physical education curriculum. Using the established health evaluation model, the evaluation scores of physical health level of two groups of college students before and after the experiment were comprehensively analyzed. The results showed that the overall score of group A students' physical health level increased; the rising rate was 2.87%. However, there was no significant change in the scores of physical health assessment of group B students. The results show that physical fitness training into the public physical education curriculum can effectively help improve the overall health level of students, and also shows that the introduction of AHP into the evaluation of College Students' physical health level can improve the comprehensiveness of health level analysis. It is hoped that this study can provide some reference for physical education teaching in Colleges and universities, so as to improve the overall teaching level of colleges and universities.