Motivation, self-evaluation, performance: comparison of objective and subjective health indicators in higher...

Health-conscious behavior, culture, and motivation positively impact physical activity. However, compared to high school, university students' daily physical exercise shows a declining trend, with non-sporting students generally less satisfied with their physical condition. This study compares the sports motivation, subjective health, and fitness status of sports major and non-sports major university students, contrasting self-evaluation data with objective measurements. Following purposive sampling, 146 individuals participated (sports major students: n = 50, non-sports major students: n = 96); the uneven group distribution constitutes a limitation of the study. The average age was 21.33 ± 2.19 years, comprising 35.9% females and 64.1% males. Fitness self-assessment utilized a self-report questionnaire (32 items; Cronbach's alpha = 0.658), alongside the objective determination of body mass index (BMI) using bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody 720, Biospace Co., Seoul, South Korea), estimated maximal oxygen uptake (estimated VO2max) via the 12-minute Cooper run test, and functional movement quality assessed with the Functional Movement Screen (FMS). Resultsindicated that 35.5% of non-sports majors and 81.3% of sports majors judged their performance capacity and fitness as good or very good. Sports majors demonstrated significantly higher estimated VO2max values (39.39 ± 6.81 vs. 28.23 ± 9.79 mL/kg/min; p < 0.001), while BMI values were nearly identical across groups (24.03 ± 4.90 vs. 24.01 ± 3.34 kg/m²; p = 0.980). Self-evaluations regarding performance and fitness aligned with objective measurements, confirming the superior cardiovascular condition of sports majors. BMI values were similar across groups; however, this should not be interpreted as direct evidence of health-conscious behavior, as weight maintenance may reflect a range of factors unrelated to intentional health behavior. These findings contribute to the understanding of physical activity determinants during the transition into higher education.