Abstract
Approximately 62.9% of college students experienced overwhelming anxiety while sexual and racial minority college students who reported unmet social determinants of health needs were more at risk for experiencing symptoms of anxiety (Johnson, 2022). It was also found that training in sports increased college students’ mental toughness and reduced negative feelings (Cui & Zhang, 2022). Additionally, exercise has been known to assist in managing anxiety in college students (Zhu & Cheng, 2022). PURPOSE: The aim of this study sought to explore the relationship between anxiety and exercise identity among college students. This population has access to campus resources such as recreational centers, intramural sports, and athletic facilities; all which can be used to help with anxiety and depression. METHODS: This is a quantitative study completed through an online survey. Participants (N=52) were asked demographic questions in addition to the use of the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire and Exercise Identity Scale (EIS). Correlations were completed to determine interactions among the variables. Chi square analyses and ANOVAs were used to further investigate relationships among significant variables. RESULTS: The findings of this study show inverse significant correlations among usage of the recreational center (p=0.002)., exercise identity (p=0.001), and sex (p=0.10). CONCLUSION: The preliminary investigation illuminated relationships among the use of resources and exercise identity. Students still showed mild, moderate, and severe levels of anxiety (mean=2.94) regardless of exercise identity.
Recommended Citation
Vaughan, Jaiden and Parker, Verneal
(2024)
"Anxiety and Exercise Identity Among College Students,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2:
Iss.
16, Article 209.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss16/209