Sedentary behavior and physical activity of young adult university students

Keywords

college or university, physical activity, sedentary behavior, young adults

Abstract

Movement and non‐movement behaviors include sleep, sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA). While young adults are generally perceived as healthy, the level and relationship of SB and PA in college‐age students has not been greatly explored. The purpose of this study was to objectively measure the levels of SB and PA in 18–20 year‐old university students, record their self‐reported extracurricular activities, and explore the relationship of all these with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Male (n = 48) and female (n = 46) students participated in this cross‐sectional study. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to examine time spent in SB, moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), number of self‐reported sedentary extracurricular activities, and their relation to the dependent variables of BMI and WC. In correlation analyses, SB (p < .001) and MVPA (p = .017) both were negatively associated with BMI, and “other” race or ethnicity (African American, Hispanic, mixed; p = .013) and number of self‐reported sedentary extracurricular activities (p = .006) were positively associated with BMI. In the WC regression model, SB (p = .018) was negatively associated and number of self‐reported sedentary extracurricular activities (p = .006) was positively associated with WC. University students may be both highly active and highly sedentary. Future researchers should consider targeting interventions to reduce SB in addition to improving PA.

Original Publication Citation

Peterson, N. E., Sirard, J. R., Kulbok, P. A., DeBoer, M. D., & Erickson, J. M. (2018). Sedentary behavior and physical activity of young adult university students. Research in Nursing & Health, 41(1), 30-38.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2018-01-09

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/7996

Publisher

Research in Nursing & Health

Language

English

College

Nursing

University Standing at Time of Publication

Assistant Professor

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS