Physical Activity Pattern

Physical activity pattern of this study referred to preference of activities were influence the university students. The previous study data showed that the numbers of the inactive students were greater when the student’s age is increase from secondary to university or college. A study in united state showed inactivity among youth is increase by grade by grade level from 24.3% in 9^th grade to 38.9% in 12^th grade and in additional, inactivity is highest among black youth 36.4% and lowest among white youth 29.3% (Brownson 2005).

The nationwide rate was 24.9% in 2007 with considerable sex and ethnic differences in the rates. More girls than boys 31.8% vs. 18.0% and more Black 32.0% than Caucasian 22.4% and Hispanic 27.1% students did not participate in 60 or more minutes of physical activity during the last 7 day. According to Li (2009), engaging in any types of physical activity declines as age or grade in school increases and generally people who have lower levels of education and income are least active in their leisure time. USDHHS (2000) reported that 40 % do not participate in any regular physical activity. Studies in European population revealed similar results that more than half of the population 57.4% did not participate vigorous physical activity (Eurobarometer, 2003).

In the previous study also showed that lack of time, set to in activity and less social support is barrier for the students being active in physical activity. This has been stated as first, second and third barrier in the Perceived barriers by university students in the practice of physical activities (Gomez, 2010). Not having enough time was the most important barrier for not participating in physical activity in another study by Daskapan (2005). This result also similar to the previous study Motivation and Barriers to exercise among college students (Ebben, 2008)

Sub pattern of physical activity is how frequent they participate in physical activity in a week. The term frequent refers to how many times a week you do or participate in the physical activity. In literature above has showed that inactivity among youth is increase by grade or age (Li 2009) and there were highest among black youth were inactivity (Brownson, 2005). All this study has showed that it will impacts the frequent of their involvement. For example, 3 days a week or 5 times a week as recommended similar to article, physical activity recommendations really do matter (Mark, 2008) or less. 

The final sub patterns were length of the time or duration per activity. This sub pattern is referring to how long the exercise has been done in a time. As discussed above Black and Caucasian and Hispanic students did not participate in 60 or more minutes of physical activity during a week. Previous study recommended that 15 to 30 minutes is the recommended time in every physical activity involve, (Burapadaja, 2006). Another study showed for youth should spend 30 – 40 minutes long for a physical activity (William, 2005). Based on this literature, the duration or length of the physical activity must be increased to the transition from kids to youth or adolescents.