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.

The Most Influencing Factors of Physical Activity Participation - May 2011

The 3 Most Influencing Factors of Physical Activity Participation are :

1. Health Factor
2. Social Recognition
3. Enjoyment

The findings after testing all items in the 5 dimensions or variables, we can see that there are no significance differences between influence factor that influence Universiti Kuala Lumpur students to be involved in physical activity. According to data collects showed, with mean score M=3.33 for health factor, M=3.1850 for social recognition factor and in additional M=3.17 for enjoyment factor showed the factor of influence the participation among Universiti Kuala Lumpur respondents in physical activity. Another 2 variables were below than M=3.00 including competition and environment factors.

The result of this test indicates that all dimension or variables shows the same result and was the answer to the first research question. According to Biddle (1998), Iso-Ahola (1980) and Lim (2002), (2004) showed many students also participate in physical activities because of health and similar to the perceived positive health and fitness benefits as well as social and psychological benefits. In additional previous qualitative study also shows has identified a series of meanings, perceptions and beliefs which are able to extend our theoretical understanding of physical activity participation for this age and gender group and identify potentially modifiable determinants for attention in health interventions (Coleman, 2008).

The research also found that social recognition factor also contributes to the influence of the participation of physical activity among Universiti Kuala Lumpur students similar to an interviewed has been done on having learn new skills, increased self-esteem, improved fitness and developed new social networks as motivation to be physically active, (Flintoff, 2005)  and other study showed knowledge of peer group will enable parents, teachers and trainers to guide action to either strengthen the perceived climate or redirect it and thus increase self determination motivation and positive sensation felt during participate in physical activity (Moreno, 2008). This research study has found that all factors influence University Kuala Lumpur students to be involved in physical activity involvement are also similar to the theoretical underpinning as Maslow’s hierarchy 1954 that three stages including safety, love / belonging and esteem.

Other factor is enjoyment which also similar to previous study that enjoyment, interest, fun, and persistence also called intrinsic motivation and it may seem like a program factor but sense of enjoyment is an individual belief (Ryan 2009). In additional previous study also found interest, enjoyment, fun, and persistence is more often as predictors of participation and non-participation than perceived health benefits (Young, 2005).