Patterns of Physical Activity Among University Students and Their Perceptions About the Curricular Content Concerned...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sports Science
• Higher Education Studies

Background:

• University students face challenges in maintaining physical activity due to academic and extracurricular demands.
• Declining physical activity levels are a concern in India's adult population.
• Limited research exists on physical activity among Indian university students and the role of curricula.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess physical activity levels among students at a large North Indian university.
• To explore student perceptions regarding the integration of physical activity promotion within their academic curricula.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional descriptive study involving 4586 university students.
• Utilized the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form for data collection.
• Employed a newly developed 5-item scale to gauge student perceptions on physical activity in curricula.

Main Results:

• Approximately 14.5% of participating students were classified as 'Inactive'.
• Significant variations in perceptions of physical activity emphasis within curricula were observed across different academic streams.
• A majority of students (61.7%) were male, with a mean age of 22.34 years.

Conclusions:

• The physical activity patterns of the studied university students were more favorable than those reported for the general adult population in India.
• Higher education curricula in many streams inadequately address health-related topics, including physical activity.
• There is a need to enhance the integration of physical activity promotion within university academic programs.