THE INTENSITY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND THE HEALTH-RELATED BEHAVIOUR OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF SELECTED MAJORS

Abstract

The health of a society is conditioned by healthy lifestyle choices. A significant role in shaping health-related behaviour is played by university students, who should be leaders in the scope of health in the future. Our aim was to determine the intensity of physical activities and their relation with the intensity of health-related behaviours of university students of selected majors. Our research covered 372 students of physical education (292) and social sciences (108) from Poznań and Szczecin. We applied Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (MLTPAQ) and Health Behaviour Inventory (HBI). The relations between the level of physical activity (PA) and the health behaviour of the students were determined by intra-group correlations (r). The value of p<0.05 was adopted as statistically significant. Physical education (PE) and public health (PH) students showed higher levels of PA and health behaviour as compared to the students of social sciences (SS). The total activity metabolic index (AMI) indicated a lower level of PA among women, regardless of major. PA [4; 6) MET of tourism and recreation (T&R) students was highly and positively correlated with preventive behaviours (PB) (r=0.69). PA <4 MET of female T&R students and male PE students positively correlated with correct eating habits (CEH). We found negative correlations between PA ≥6 MET of female PE students and male PH students [4-6) and ≥6 MET and health practices (HP), as well as PA [4-6 MET) of male PE students and positive mental attitude (PMA). Positive and negative correlations between free-time physical activity and health-related behaviours indicate the need for regular physical and health education of students. Physical activity, correct eating habits and preventive behaviour of students will increase their chances of promoting a healthy lifestyle in society.