Supporting physical activity among students at VSB-TUO
Keywords:
questionnaire, faculty, male, femaleAbstract
The transition to university, particularly during the first year of study, presents students with numerous challenges and changes. One of these is a shift in lifestyle, often accompanied by reduced levels of physical activity. A lack of physical activity can contribute to issues such as weight gain, unhealthy eating habits, sleep disturbances, and other problems that subsequently affect not only academic performance but also the overall quality of personal life. The aim of this study was to examine how students at VSB-TUO perceive support for physical activity within the context of their university studies. To achieve this aim, we developed an online questionnaire, which was completed by 1,470 respondents, including 1,042 males and 428 females. The questionnaire consisted of 30 questions divided into three main thematic areas and further segmented into nine sections, allowing for branching based on the specific segmentation of respondents. Of these, 25 questions were closed-ended, four were semi-closed, and one was open-ended. Data collection took place in February and March 2024, during the introductory sessions of selected courses at the beginning of the summer semester. The responses revealed that after starting university, 61% of students experienced no change in the frequency of their physical activity. For an additional 25%, the frequency of physical activity increased due to various forms of support. Only 14% of respondents reported a decrease in activity frequency. Based on the results of our study, we conclude that the forms of support implemented at VSB-TUO enable more than four-fifths of first-year students to maintain or increase their frequency of physical activity after entering university.