Gender Differences in Predictors of Physical Activity among Korean College Students Based on the Health Promotion Model

Exploring barriers to physical activity participation among female nursing students adhering to specific social-cultural norms in Indonesia: A qualitative study

Background

The prevalence of insufficient physical activity is common among nursing students and impacts their academic performance. Research on obstacles to physical activity (PA) among religious women, notably Muslims, is limited.

Objectives

This study aimed to explore barriers to PA among Indonesian Muslim female nursing students and gather suggestions for overcoming those barriers.

Methods

This study used a qualitative descriptive design. Two focus groups were conducted with 12 Muslim female nursing students in Makassar, Indonesia. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were collected from May and July 2019. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify core themes and sub-themes.

Results

Thematic analysis identified barriers to PA across four main themes: intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, and social-cultural related to religious context. Each theme included two to three sub-themes, totaling nine categories of PA participation barriers. Intrapersonal barriers consisted of low motivation, emotional states, and a sedentary lifestyle. Interpersonal challenges included a lack of family or friend support and family obligations. Institutional barriers involved academic workload prioritization, school environment inaccessibility, and absence of athletic curriculum policy. Socio-cultural barriers posed by religious expectations included gender-related concerns and modest dressing. Drawing from their perspectives as Muslim female nursing students, study participants proposed six strategies to address these barriers. Proposed solutions include promoting PA through Apps, forming female team-up clubs, providing designated exercise spaces, and implementing mandatory athletic courses for nursing students at the institutional level. Additionally, offering female instructors and private exercise rooms could reduce the barriers from a socio-cultural perspective caused by religious expectations.

Conclusions

The study found that Muslim female nursing students with dual roles face increased barriers to PA participation, driven by intrapersonal and interpersonal levels, nursing learning load, and religious norms. Schools could build environments to meet the religious expectations within Indonesian society to promote PA for Muslim female nursing students. For example, the practical strategies include offering private rooms or female instructors when they physically exercise in school.

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.

Assessment of food consumption, smoking, alcohol use, and physical activity by sex and major of study among a sample of college students in Jordan

This study aimed to assess the food frequency and health-related risk behaviors based on gender and major of study (health and non-health majors) in a sample of undergraduate university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 708 undergraduate university students (37.4% males; 62.6% females) with a mean age of 20.88(SD = 2.20), ranging from 18 to 37 years from five universities. A self-reported questionnaire was administered in the university classrooms to collect data. Results showed that 47.3% of students reported consuming fruits and vegetables (38.1%), and 54% reported consuming unhealthy foods at least once in the preceding 24 h. About 16% of the students were cigarette smokers, 17% were waterpipe smokers, and slightly more than 4% were alcohol consumers. Significant associations were found between the participants based on their sexes, and study majors (P < 0.001). Male students smoked and consumed alcohol at significantly higher rates than female students. As with regards to the physical activity in the preceding week, students had not carried out any stretching activities (52.8%), strengthening activities (62.4%), cycling (35%), or taken part in any physical activity classes (68.4%). The rates of physical activity were significantly higher among male students than female students (p < 0.001). The results showed that non-health major students differ from those in health majors in the consumption of cigarettes (p < 0.001) and waterpipe smoking (p = 0.027). Students in non-health majors were more likely than students in health majors to have carried out stretching activities (p = 0.021) and participated in physical activity classes (p = 0.02). Our findings highlighted the importance of identifying health-related risk behaviors among university students to develop a health-promoting intervention tailored to a specific group of students considering their sex and study majors.

Exercise health belief model mediates the relationship between physical activity and peer support among Chinese college students: A cross-sectional survey

This study explored the influence of the exercise health belief model and peer support on university students' physical activity PA and clarified the related mechanism. Three hundred and thirty-six healthy university students (aged 19.4 ± 1.3 years, 166 male and 170 female) from Sichuan University of Arts and Science in China were evaluated by the peer support scale, the health belief model scale for exercise, and the physical activity scale (short volume). The results showed that the male students' exercise self-efficacy and PA were markedly higher than female university students. Peer support was positively correlated with perceived benefits, exercise self-efficacy, perceived severity, and cues to action, and was adversely associated with perceived objective and subjective barriers. PA was positively correlated with perceived benefits and exercise self-efficacy, and negatively correlated with perceived objective and subjective barriers. Among the components of the exercise health belief model, only exercise self-efficacy was suitable for constructing a structural equation model (SEM) with peer support and PA. The analysis showed that the predictive effect of exercise self-efficacy on PA was more significant than peer support, and exercise self-efficacy played a critical intermediary role. It is worth noting that, in the grouping model, the effect of male college students' exercise self-efficacy on PA was greater than that of female students, and the model fit of male peer support was better than that of female students. Although the impact of peer support on PA was less than that of exercise self-efficacy and the direct effect of peer support was less than the indirect effect, the impact of peer support on the PA of female university students was higher than that of male university students. This study revealed the impact of exercise self-efficacy and peer support on university students' PA and suggested that exercise self-efficacy is the main path to promoting university students' PA, followed by peer support. Peer support could affect university students' PA not only through direct effects but also through indirect effects. This study also suggested that female university students' peer support has a higher impact on PA than male students. Therefore, when formulating physical exercise courses in the future, it is necessary to give more peer support to female university students to compensate for their low exercise self-efficacy.

Relationship of Ηand Grip Strength, Physical Activity, and Anthropometric Characteristics in a Sample of Male and Female Physiotherapy Students

The present study aimed to determine gender differences in the hand grip strength (HGS) and to examine the relations between HGS, anthropometric characteristics, and physical activity (PA) in Greek young adults. A cross-sectional observational study of 276 students (21.5 ± 4.1 years, 122 men, 154 women) was conducted at the University of Patras, Greece. HGS was assessed via a hand-held grip strength dynamometer; body composition was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis; and calf, mid-arm, and waist circumferences with inelastic tape. PA was assessed with the modified Baecke Questionnaire for Habitual Physical Activity (mBQHPA). The mean of HGS was 37.15 ± 11.2 kg. Men had significantly (p < 0.001) greater HGS than women. Statistically large correlation was detected between HGS and muscle mass (r = 0.73; p ≤ 0.001), gender (r = 0.6; p ≤ 0.001), mid-arm (r = 0.74; p ≤ 0.001), and calf circumference (r = 0.69; p ≤ 0.001). Results show that fat mass was a risk factor associated with HGS, found using regression analyses in both genders. However, PA was a significant associated factor only for women participants (ΟR = 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.17-1.38; p ≤ 0.05). In summary, the HGS of Greek physiotherapy students was associated with muscle mass, gender, mid-arm, and calf circumference.

Applying the Pender's Health Promotion Model to Identify the Factors Related to Older Adults' Participation in Community-Based Health Promotion Activities

Aging societies have garnered global attention regarding issues related to older adults' health promotion. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify factors associated with older adults' participation in community-based health promotion activities. The Older Adults' Health Promotion Activity Questionnaire was developed to collect data, and a total of 139 older adults were recruited from a community care center in Taoyuan City. Participants' mean age was 72.7 years (SD = 6.0 years), 74.8% were females, 64.7% were married, 59% had a lower level of education, 51.8% had lower income, 59% reported their health status not good, and 76.3% had chronic disease. Our findings indicated that age, perceived benefits, and self-efficacy were identified as significant predictors of participation in health promotion activities. Among them, perceived benefits were found to have the strongest association with participation in health promotion activities (β = 0.305; p < 0.05). The findings showed that the Pender's Health Promotion Model is useful to provide information for predicting and detecting significant factors related to older adults' participation in community-based health promotion activities. By using this model as a framework, researchers can design more specific studies that are directed towards improving healthy lifestyles and detecting the key components of health-related behaviors among different age groups.

The role of correlated factors based on Pender health promotion model in brushing behavior in the 13-16 years old students of Guilan, Iran

Background

Tooth decay is one of the diseases that is closely related to people’s behaviors and it can have adverse effects on their performance and their success in the future. Brushing twice a day is the simplest and most effective way to reduce tooth decay. The study aim was to determining the roles of correlational factors based on the Pender’s health promotion model in brushing behavior of ninth grade students at urban public schools of Guilan province during the academic year 2019.

Methods

The present study was cross-sectional and had a descriptive-analytical type. We performed the multi-stage random sampling on 761 ninth-grade students (374 girls and 387 boys) at urban public schools of six counties (ten cities) of Guilan province in 2019. The primary tool was a questionnaire on oral health behaviors focusing on brushing behavior. In the present study, which was conducted only on brushing behavior, we revised and changed the initial questionnaire during the sessions of the research team, and then confirmed its validity and reliability. The questionnaire consisted of three parts, demographic characteristics, constructs of health promotion model, and brushing behavior. We analyzed data in SPSS 21 using regression models.

Results

20.1% of students brushed their teeth at least twice a day. Optimal behavior had a statistically significant relationship with parents’ education level, and gender. Based on the regression model, the health promotion model constructs described 58% of the variance of the commitment to plan of action. Perceived self-efficacy, situational influences, and perceived barriers of action had significantly stronger relationships with commitment to plan of action respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that one-unit increase in scores of commitment to plan of action and self-efficacy increased the chance of desired behavior by 12 and 14% respectively.

Conclusion

Due to the low rate of brushing behavior in the students and the predictive power of the health promotion model in brushing behavior, we suggest planning and implementation of educational interventions for this group with an emphasis on influencing the commitment to plan of action, self-efficacy, and also the level of knowledge.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13052-021-01063-y.

Environmental and Psychosocial Barriers Affect the Active Commuting to University in Chilean Students

Biking and walking are active commuting, which is considered an opportunity to create healthy habits. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the main environmental and psychosocial barriers perceived by students, leading to less Active Commuting (AC) to university and to not reaching the Physical Activity (PA) recommendations. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1349 university students (637 men and 712 women) were selected. A self-reported questionnaire was applied to assess the mode of commuting, PA level and barriers to the use of the AC. Results: Women presented higher barriers associated with passive commuting than men. The main barriers for women were “involves too much planning” (OR: 5.25; 95% CI: 3.14–8.78), “It takes too much time” (OR: 4.62; 95% CI: 3.05–6.99) and “It takes too much physical effort “ (OR: 3.18; 95% CI: 2.05–4.94). In men, the main barriers were “It takes too much time” (OR: 4.22; 95% CI: 2.97–5.99), “involves too much planning” (OR: 2.49; 95% CI: 1.67–3.70) and “too much traffic along the route” (OR: 2.07; 95% CI: 1.47–2.93). Psychosocial barriers were found in both sexes. Conclusions: Psychosocial and personal barriers were more positively associated with passive commuting than environmental barriers. Interventions at the university are necessary to improve the perception of AC and encourage personal organization to travel more actively.

Risk Perception & Risk-Reduction Behavior Model for Blue-Collar Workers: Adapted From the Health Promotion Model

This study examined the health promotion model (HPM) as a framework for assessing perceptions and health-related behaviors related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among blue-collar workers. This was done with the aim of providing time-sensitive educational and training materials for workers while on the job or functioning in their communities. The revised HPM was evaluated in the above context using specific criteria developed by Chinn and Kramer (2008) and scoping literature review. Specifically, we assessed the model based on five criteria such as its clarity, simplicity, generality, accessibility, and importance. The revised HPM showed strengths in both accessibility and generality. That is, it applied to all populations and chronic illnesses through clearly defined and specified major concepts. However, there were several weaknesses in areas of clarity and consistency; the model included three new concepts (i.e., activity-related affect, commitment to a plan of action, and immediate competing demands and preference) that actually decreased these elements. In this context, situational influences require adequately reflected external variables. Nevertheless, the revised HPM showed predictive power among this study's target population. The HPM was modified to address deficiencies in regard to the concept of risk perception. Work-related situational influences were also restructured based on individual and environmental characteristics. The modified framework can be used to clarify health-related behaviors among blue-collar workers.