Physical Activity Knowledge: Habitual Physical Activity and University Environment

Background/Purpose: Improving and developing mastery of Health Related Fitness knowledge is contributory to the establishment of healthy physical activity (PA) behaviors. This study investigated health-related PA knowledge (HPAK) in college students and its relationship to habitual PA level and university environment.

Method: Ninety-one college students completed HPAK test consisting of 40 multiple-choice items. The participants [M age (SD)=21.1(3.4)] composed of 52.7% male and; 46% White, 25% Asian, and 24% other (Hispanic plus Black); 10% 5^th senior, 33% senior, 22% junior, 26% freshmen plussophomore; 76% Non-Kinesiology and 15% Kinesiology. PA data were measured by the international PA questionnaire that focuses on measuring weekly PA patterns, including both PA events and amounts at various intensities. As a result, four PA variables [i.e., vigorous PA (VPA), moderate PA (MPA), light PA (LPA), and sedentary PA (SPA)] were analyzed. Differences and prediction in HPAK scores by gender, ethnicity, years in university and academic major were examined using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Correlation and prediction in HPAK by PA variables were assessed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression.

Analysis/Results: The mean HPAK test score of students was 21 out of 40 points. The ANOVA results revealed that significant HPAK differences were found in academic major and year in university and ethnicity, but not in gender. Regarding HPAK differences in ethnicity, White students had significantly higher HPAK scores than the group of Hispanic plus Black students (p = .05), but not than Asian students. In year in university, senior (p = .032) or 5^th senior students (p = .057) had significantly higher HPAK scores than the group of freshmen plus sophomore. In academic major, kinesiology students had significantly higher HPAK score than non-kinesiology students (p = .02). A regression analysis revealed that year in university (β = .27, p = .012) and academic major (β = .30, p = .005) were significant predictors of HPAK scores and accounting for 19% of the total variance. Furthermore, SPA negatively predicted HPAK score (β = -.35, p = .045) and accounted for 22% of variance. In addition, HPAK score was negatively correlated with the time spent in SPA [r=-.271, p = .041]. However, HPAK was not significantly correlated with VPA, MPA and LPA.

Conclusions: HPAK was correlated to ethnicity, year in university, and academic major and habitual PA. The findings of the study enrich our understanding about the association between HPAK and PA levels in a university setting.