RELATION BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND ENJOYMENT OF BEING ACTIVE IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

RESUMO

Armando Cocca, Daniel Mayorga-Vega y Jes�ºs Viciana

The worsening of public health in the last decades is a sign of
current people’s lifestyle (WHO, 2010). Physical Activity (PA) is considered an
important indicator for a healthy lifestyle (Ortega et al., 2008). Improving PA
levels represents a principal objective for thwarting the current health condition.
Enjoyment is strongly linked to participation in PA (Salmon et al., 2003). This
study aims to assess PA levels in university students, and to estimate their
association with enjoyment of being active. 1,353 university students fulfilled
a questionnaire for assessing PA levels and the enjoyment of PA. Participants
were significantly less active than recommended for improving health (p < .001).
A significant correlation between PA and enjoyment was found (p = .02).
University is a stage of considerable changes in life (Cantù et al., 2010). Families
and professors are pointed out to be fundamental. Hence, we should involve
them while carrying out interventions to promoting healthy behaviours
among young adults.