Abstract
International Journal of Exercise Science 15(7): 1680-1691, 2022. Physical activity has significantly declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. Declines in physical activity have correlated with increased levels of perceived stress, though studies examining physical activity and stress have failed to account for critical confounds. The present study aims to determine whether physical activity independently predicts perceived stress in students attending private four-year universities. Physical activity, socioeconomic status, resilience, gender, and perceived stress data were collected from 85 students and used in a multiple linear regression analysis. The regression model accounted for 43.5% of the variance in perceived stress (R2 = .462, p < .001). Total physical activity significantly and inversely predicted perceived stress (β = –.229, p = .007) in students irrespective of other covariates. Socioeconomic status, resilience, and gender also independently and significantly predicted perceived stress. Findings should be leveraged by university staff to promote psychological well-being and wholistic health initiatives incorporating physical activity as a primary and modifiable component.
Recommended Citation
Brownell, Curtis W.; Kabiri, Laura S.; Diep, Cassandra S.; Perkins, Heidi Y.; Perkins-Ball, Amanda M.; and Rodriguez, Augusto X.
(2022)
"Physical Activity Independently Predicts Perceived Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Private University Students,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Vol. 15
:
Iss.
7, Pages 1680 - 1691.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijes/vol15/iss7/11