HomeSALETTINIAN OPEN ACADEMIC REVIEWvol. 7 no. 1 (2025)

Physical Activity And Motivation Among University Students: Implications For Wellness Program

Gene Rose N. Bilibli

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to examine the existing level of physical activity (PA), degree of motivation, and the relationship between physical activity and motivation among university students enrolled in Physical Education classes. One Hundred Sixty apparently healthy university students (118 males and 42 females) answered the International Physical Activity Questionnaire- Short Form (IPAQ-Short Form) to measure their physical activity level and Behavioural Regulations in Exercise Questionnaire-3 (BREQ-3) to assess their motivation for physical activity. The total physical activity of 41% of the BSIT university students revealed low levels of physical activity. Approximately 39% of university students engage in high levels of physical activity, while 21% exhibit moderate levels of physical activity. Based on the results gathered from the BREQ-3, the individuals surveyed displayed a strong sense of identified regulation and intrinsic regulation in relation to their physical activity. Most students (n = 152, 95.0%) reported participating in physical activities with a greater sense of relative autonomy, reflecting a more autonomous sense of motivation. In contrast, only a few students (n = 8, 5.0%) indicated more controlled motivation in their engagement. These findings suggest that most students are motivated to participate in physical activities for intrinsic reasons rather than due to external pressures or obligations. The results revealed no association between the level of physical activity and the degree of motivation among university physical education students (χ2 = 0.102, p = 0.950). These findings suggest that the degree of motivation, whether autonomous or controlled, does not significantly influence the level of physical activity among the students.



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