Physical activity and health-related quality of life among university students

Abstract

University students have been found to have poor physical activity (PA) habits, and its effect on their health status has been a focus of many studies. However, relatively few studies have objectively and subjectively assessed the physical activity levels of university students and its relationship with their health-related quality of life. This study evaluated the relationship between PA level and health-related quality of life among university students in South Africa. Physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Yamax Digiwalker-SW200 pedometer. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was measured using the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12v2), blood pressure, and anthropometric indices. A total of 263 undergraduate students (males: n = 48; females: n= 215) participated in this study. Physical activity level was low in 22.5% (objective) and 26.9% (subjective) cases of the study sample. The average number of steps and MET-minutes/week were 6059 (4847-7482) and 3933 (2034-5572), respectively. The median physical component summary and mental component summary scores were 52.69 (47.06-58.10) and 40.72 (33.40-46.76), respectively. The predictors of a physical component summary score of the SF-12v2 were body mass index (BMI) and a high level of PA (R=0.26, p<0.001). Gender was a significant predictor of the mental component summary score of the SF-12v2 in the presence of BMI and waist-hip ratio (R=0.15, p<0.01). A high level of PA is a predictor of health-related quality of life (PCS) among the students. Thus, health-enhancing interventions to improve students’ PA levels and promote healthy lifestyle should be instituted.