It is well-documented that regular physical activity contributes to significant health benefits, including health-related quality of life (HRQOL) (Bize, Johnson, & Plotnikoff, 2007). However, participation in physical activity is relatively low among college students (30%-50%), especially international college students in the U.S. They cited more barriers to physical activity than their counterparts, which can influence their social adjustment process and psychological well-being (Hashim, 2012). Although the relationship between physical activity and HRQOL has been investigated in general population, few studies have examined the relationships among physical activity, perceived barriers to physical activity and HRQOL among international college students. Thus, this study attempted to fill this gap and to test the role of perceived barriers in the relationship between physical activity and HRQOL among this population.
Method:
Using purposive sampling, 173 (71 female and 102 male) international college students (M age = 26.45; SD =.41) were recruited from a public research university in the U.S. During the middle of the spring semester, students completed previously validated questionnaires assessing their physical activity behavior, perceived barriers to physical activity, and physical and psychosocial functions of HRQOL.
Analysis/Results:
Correlational analyses indicated that physical activity was negatively related to perceived barriers to physical activity (r = -.23, p = .002). Both physical and psychosocial functions of HRQOL were positively associated with physical activity (r = .24, p = .001; r = .16, p = .03; respectively), but negatively related to perceived barriers (r = -.34, p = .000; r = -.38, p = .001; respectively). Mediational analyses (Baron & Kenny, 1986) indicated that the relationship between physical activity and students’ physical function of HRQOL was partially mediated by perceived barriers. Further, perceived barriers emerged as a full mediator between physical activity and psychosocial function of HRQOL.
Conclusions:
The findings revealed that international college students who reported higher levels of physical activity perceived fewer barriers to physical activity and had better HRQOL. The results supported the mediational role of perceived barriers in the relationship between physical activity and HRQOL among international college students in the U.S. In conclusion, these findings underscored the importance of future research to identify specific type of physical activity barriers perceived by the international students. Future health promotion programs should include research based interventions to minimize perceived barriers to physical activity among this population.