Relationships of Psychological Constructs with Physical Activity in Korean University Students

OBJECTIVES The purposes of this study were to investigate differences in health risk perception, exercise knowledge, self-efficacy, exercise adherence, pros, cons, and physical activity by gender and the level of exercise participation and to identify the influences of the psychological constructs on physical activity in Korean university students. METHODS A total of 495 university students (213 males, 282 females; age = 20.55 years, SD = 2.01) from three universities located in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi-do voluntarily participated in this study. In order to measure physical activity and its related psychological variables, five standardized Korean questionnaires were applied. Data were analyzed by descriptive analysis, MANOVAs, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS It was confirmed that there were some partial differences in psychological factors and physical activity (total, intermediate/high intensity) depending on the gender and level of participation in sports of the students. Also there were differences in factors that affected their physical activities by gender and level of participation in sports. CONCLUSIONS It needs to be continued in order to gain more empirical knowledge from evidence-based investigations applying the theory-based interventions with some other variables such as gender, age and the level of physical activity participation.