J Phys Act Health. 2018 Mar 1;15(3):183-190. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2017-0069. Epub 2017 Nov 25.
College is a place where students develop health behaviors that persist throughout adulthood, yet a large percentage of students are not engaging in adequate physical activity. Social support is associated with physical activity; however, the effects of source (ie, family and friend) and type (ie, companionship, esteem, and informational) are not fully understood. The current study examined the effects of different sources and types of social support on college students' physical activity behaviors.
An online survey tool collected data from 733 college students enrolled at a Mid-Atlantic university. Structural equation models and a repeated-measures analysis of variance were conducted.
Support from family and friends was associated with physical activity behaviors; however, support from friends exerted a stronger effect. Students received different types of support from their network, which differentially influenced physical activity behaviors. Students received higher levels of companionship support from their friends and higher levels of esteem support from their family, which was positively associated with physical activity behaviors. Students received higher levels of informational support from their families, which was negatively associated with physical activity behaviors.
This study highlights the importance of examining the independent effects of source and type of support on college students' physical activity.
大学是学生养成健康行为的地方，这些行为会持续到成年，但仍有很大比例的学生没有进行足够的体育锻炼。社会支持与体育锻炼有关；然而，来源（即家庭和朋友）和类型（即陪伴、尊重和信息）的影响还不完全清楚。本研究探讨了不同来源和类型的社会支持对大学生体育锻炼行为的影响。
在线调查工具从大西洋中部一所大学的 733 名大学生那里收集了数据。进行了结构方程模型和重复测量方差分析。
来自家庭和朋友的支持与体育锻炼行为有关；然而，来自朋友的支持的影响更大。学生从他们的社交网络中获得不同类型的支持，这些支持对体育锻炼行为产生不同的影响。学生从朋友那里获得了更高水平的陪伴支持，从家人那里获得了更高水平的尊重支持，这与体育锻炼行为呈正相关。学生从家庭获得了更高水平的信息支持，这与体育锻炼行为呈负相关。
本研究强调了分别考察来源和支持类型对大学生体育锻炼的独立影响的重要性。
