Description
Psychosocial factors such as mental health, motivation, and social support significantly influence physical activity participation. This study explored these relationships among 534 undergraduate students at a historically disadvantaged South African university.
Data were collected in September 2022 using valid online and hard-copy questionnaires. Measures included the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress-21 Scale, the Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale, with physical activity assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.
Results showed that 29% of students were physically inactive, 31.1% minimally active, and 39.9% engaged in health-enhancing physical activity. Physical activity was positively associated with stress (r = 0.11, p < 0.05) and anxiety (r = 0.10, p < 0.05). Motivation was linked to psychological condition and others’ expectations (r = 0.10, p < 0.05) and depression and others’ expectations (r = 0.11, p < 0.05).
These findings emphasize the role of psychosocial factors in promoting physical activity participation. Health-promoting strategies should address these factors as coping mechanisms to enhance student well-being.
Institution: Sports, Recreation and Exercise Science Department at the University of the Western Cape
Submitting authority: Miss Chante Johannes
Email: 3450962@myuwc.ac.za
Publication: This paper has previously been published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2024, 21, 441.
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