Transition to university and vigorous physical activity: implications for health and psychological well-being.
The authors investigated vigorous physical activity and psychological well-being during transition from high school to first-year university in a sample of 145 Canadian undergraduates. Participants completed retrospective measures assessing vigorous physical activity during their first 2 months at university and their last 2 months at high school as well as measures assessing psychological well-being. According to nationally recommended (US Department of Health and Human Services) standards, two thirds (66.2%) of students reported adequate levels of vigorous activity in high school, whereas significantly fewer (44.1%) met the standard during their first 8 weeks at university. One third of students were active in high school but became insufficiently active once at university; 33% were active at both times; 23% consistently fell short of recommended levels; and only 11% became active once at university. Students who had become insufficiently active reported higher levels of fatigue and lower levels of vigor compared with those who continued to be active.
Bray
Steven R
SR
Department of Kinesiology, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. steven.bray@uleth.ca
Born
Heidi A
HA
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002170:Canada; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities