Analysis of Perceived Barriers to Leisure Time Physical Activity in University Students

Sanjeev Kumar; Mukesh Kumar Verma; Devdutt Singh Shekhawat; Suhit Singha; Piku Saikia; Priyanka

doi:10.60081/SSHA.3.1.2025.332-340

Authors

Sanjeev Kumar Associate Professor, Department of Physical Education, Central University of Punjab https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6569-0810
Mukesh Kumar Verma Associate Professor, Department of Education in Social Science, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Sri Aurobindo Marg, 110016, New Delhi, India. https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3304-251X
Devdutt Singh Shekhawat Research Scholar, Department of Physical Education, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda, Punjab, 151401, India
Suhit Singha Research Scholar, Department of Physical Education, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda, Punjab, 151401, India https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0210-5654
Piku Saikia Research Scholar, Department of Physical Education, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda, Punjab, 151401, India https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9529-2254
Priyanka Research Scholar, Department of Physical Education, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda, Punjab, 151401, India https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6455-0777

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60081/SSHA.3.1.2025.332-340

Keywords:

Perceived Barriers, Leisure-Time Physical Activity, Motivation, Stress

Abstract

Background. Engaging in physical activities is essential for maintaining both physical and mental health; however, university students often neglect this due to academic pressures and the allure of modern technology.

Objectives. This study investigated the perceived impediments to leisure-time physical activity involvement among university students, focusing on gender and academic Discipline disparities in stress, motivation and physical activity participation.

Materials and methods. A sample of 505 non-athlete students aged 20 to 26 years was purposively selected from the Central University of Punjab. Random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 250 males and 255 females, with 234 subjects from the science discipline and 271 from the humanities discipline. Data were collected using standardized instruments: the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3) by Cid et al. (2018) for assessing motivation, the Perceived Stress Scale-4 (PSS-4) by Cohen et al. (1983) for measuring stress, and the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) by Craig et al. (2003) for evaluating physical activity participation.

Results. The Mann-Whitney U test was conducted to analyze the scores for Stress, Motivation, and Physical Activity Participation. The results indicated that there was no significant differences in stress levels (U = 31420.50, p > 0.05) between male (mean rank = 254.82) and female (mean rank = 251.22) students. Similarly, no significant differences were found in stress levels (U = 30794.000, p > 0.05) with mean ranks of humanities (249.63) and science (256.90), motivation (U = 31698.0, p >0.05) with mean ranks of humanities (253.03) and Science (252.96), physical activity participation (U = 30375.5, p >0.05) with mean ranks of humanities (248.09) and science (258.69) between humanities and science discipline students at 0.05 level of significance. Whereas significant difference was observed in motivation (U = 27424.5, p < 0.05) with mean ranks of male (235.20) and female (270.45), physical activity participation (U = 26939.50, p < 0.05) with mean ranks of male (272.74) and female (233.65), between male and female students at 0.05 level of significance.

Conclusions. It is concluded that male and female students experienced stress up to the same extent. In contrast, students in the humanities and science disciplines had similar levels of stress, motivation, and participation in physical activity. However, physical activity participation was greater in male students than female students, although female students were found to have greater motivation than male students.

Author Biographies

Sanjeev Kumar, Associate Professor, Department of Physical Education, Central University of Punjab

mander26sanjeev@gmail.com
Mukesh Kumar Verma, Associate Professor, Department of Education in Social Science, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Sri Aurobindo Marg, 110016, New Delhi, India.

mukeshverma369@gmail.com
Devdutt Singh Shekhawat, Research Scholar, Department of Physical Education, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda, Punjab, 151401, India

devdutt355@gmail.com
Suhit Singha, Research Scholar, Department of Physical Education, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda, Punjab, 151401, India

suhitsingha57@gmail.com
Piku Saikia, Research Scholar, Department of Physical Education, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda, Punjab, 151401, India

pikusaikia603@gmail.com
Priyanka, Research Scholar, Department of Physical Education, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda, Punjab, 151401, India

priyankamrhta123@gmail.com

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