Ahsan Mohammad, Abualait Turki
Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Front Psychol. 2025 Jan 7;15:1546002. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1546002. eCollection 2024.
Physical activity refers to all bodily movement performed by an individual from morning to night. Physical activity benefits not only physical health but also mental health. Physical activity benefits university students in many ways.
This study aimed to determine the effects of physical activity on university students' mental health.
A cross-sectional study design was conducted with two hundred sixty-five university students. Physical activity level was determined by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and mental health among university students was determined using the mental health inventory. Data was collected by online mode. For statistical analysis, the Pearson correlation coefficient test was used, while analysis of variance was used to determine the difference between participants as per their physical activity levels classification. Statistically significant was observed at 0.05 level.
The results showed that a statistically positive significant relationship existed between physical activity and mental health ( = 0.343, = <0.001) and its parameters: anxiety ( = 0.542, = <0.001), depression ( = 0.691, = <0.001), positive effects ( = 0.476, = <0.001), behavioral control ( = 0.174, = 0.004). While comparing the difference between participants as par physical activity level classification, significant differences existed for anxiety ( = 2.96, = 0.052), depression ( = 4.23, = 0.041), positive effects ( = 3.22, = 0.048), behavioral control ( = 3.14, = 0.058), and mental health ( = 4.65, = 0.044).
The findings suggest that interventions promoting physical activity can serve as effective strategies for mental health promotion in academic settings. Universities should consider integrating structured physical activity programs into their curricula and campus life to leverage these mental health benefits.
身体活动是指个体从早到晚进行的所有身体运动。身体活动不仅有益于身体健康，也有益于心理健康。身体活动在许多方面对大学生有益。
本研究旨在确定身体活动对大学生心理健康的影响。
对265名大学生进行了横断面研究设计。身体活动水平通过国际身体活动问卷来确定，大学生的心理健康状况则使用心理健康量表来测定。数据通过在线方式收集。进行统计分析时，使用了皮尔逊相关系数检验，同时采用方差分析来根据参与者的身体活动水平分类确定差异。在0.05水平上观察到具有统计学意义。
结果表明，身体活动与心理健康（r = 0.343，p = <0.001）及其参数之间存在统计学上的显著正相关关系：焦虑（r = 0.542，p = <0.001）、抑郁（r = 0.691，p = <0.001）、积极影响（r = 0.476，p = <0.001）、行为控制（r = 0.174，p = 0.004）。在比较参与者按身体活动水平分类的差异时，焦虑（F = 2.96，p = 0.052）、抑郁（F = 4.23，p = 0.041）、积极影响（F = 3.22，p = 0.048）、行为控制（F = 3.14，p = 0.058）和心理健康（F = 4.65，p = 0.044）方面存在显著差异。
研究结果表明，促进身体活动的干预措施可作为学术环境中促进心理健康的有效策略。大学应考虑将结构化的身体活动计划纳入其课程和校园生活中，以利用这些心理健康益处。
