Physical Activity of Male and Female University Students …
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to the time of respondents’ physical activity, which amounted to: 60.0 ± 20.0 min/day
in women and 60.0 ± 15.0 min/day in men for VPA, 60.0 ± 25.0 min/day in women
and 60.0 ± 15.0 min/day in men for MPA; and 60.0 ± 22.5 min/day in women
and 60.0 ± 25 min/day in men for LPA, respectively. The energy expenditure of
vigorous-intensity physical activity was at 1440.0 ± 900.0 MET-min/week in women
and 1800.0 ± 840.0 MET-min/week in men; of moderate-intensity physical activity
at 720. 0 ± 360.0 MET-min/week in women and 960.0 ± 420.0 MET-min/week
in men; and of light-intensity physical activity at 990.0 ± 478.5 MET-min/week in
women and 990.0 ± 445.5 MET-min/week in men. The energy expenditure of total
physical activity was 2748.0 ± 1357.9 MET-min/week in women, and 3220.5 ±
1248.4 MET-min/week in men. Statistically significant differences in favor of men
were noted for the time of moderate physical activity (Z = −4.03, p < 0.001) and
related energy expenditure of moderate-intensity physical activity (Z = −2.59, p =
0.009), and for energy expenditure of total physical activity (Z = −3.49, p < 0.001)
(Table 4).
Taking into account the IPAQ criteria of habitual physical activity assessment,
the survey results revealed a high physical activity level in 51.2% (47.2% of women
and 60.2% of men), moderate physical activity level in 40.5% (42.4% of women and
36.2% of men), and a low physical activity level in 8.3% (10.4% of women and 3.6%
of men) of all respondents (Table 5).
Table 6 presents a multivariate logistic regression model illustrating the relationship between the level of physical activity (dependent variable) and gender (independent variable) of students from Wrocław. The likelihood ratio (LR) and the Wald
test (χ2) results indicate that the students’ gender significantly determined their level
of physical activity. Men were characterized more often than women by high (OR
= 3.73, CI: 1.63–8.52) and moderate (OR = 2.5, CI: 1.08–5.78) levels of activity
rather than low levels of physical activity.
4 Discussion
The analysis of research results shows that students from Wrocław were most
often characterized by high or average levels of physical activity. The relatively
high level of physical activity of university students is not surprising, and it has
already been noted by Bergier (2012), Biernat (2011), Doyle et al. (2019), Mynarski
et al. (2009), and Osipov et al. (2020). This age group is usually characterized by
good health and considerable leisure time resources, which allow them to perform
various forms of physical activity quite freely. Moreover, participation in institutionalized physical education activities, tourism societies or university sports clubs
provides a favorable environment for students to engage in physical activity. Moreover, according to Sochock and Wojtylk (2013), Umiastowska and Szczepanowska
(2005) and Zarzeczna-Baran and Wojdak-Haas (2007), university students are also
often very aware of the positive role of physical activity in shaping their own health,
including their well-being, as well as their appearance and interpersonal relationships.
89
to the time of respondents’ physical activity, which amounted to: 60.0 ± 20.0 min/day
in women and 60.0 ± 15.0 min/day in men for VPA, 60.0 ± 25.0 min/day in women
and 60.0 ± 15.0 min/day in men for MPA; and 60.0 ± 22.5 min/day in women
and 60.0 ± 25 min/day in men for LPA, respectively. The energy expenditure of
vigorous-intensity physical activity was at 1440.0 ± 900.0 MET-min/week in women
and 1800.0 ± 840.0 MET-min/week in men; of moderate-intensity physical activity
at 720. 0 ± 360.0 MET-min/week in women and 960.0 ± 420.0 MET-min/week
in men; and of light-intensity physical activity at 990.0 ± 478.5 MET-min/week in
women and 990.0 ± 445.5 MET-min/week in men. The energy expenditure of total
physical activity was 2748.0 ± 1357.9 MET-min/week in women, and 3220.5 ±
1248.4 MET-min/week in men. Statistically significant differences in favor of men
were noted for the time of moderate physical activity (Z = −4.03, p < 0.001) and
related energy expenditure of moderate-intensity physical activity (Z = −2.59, p =
0.009), and for energy expenditure of total physical activity (Z = −3.49, p < 0.001)
(Table 4).
Taking into account the IPAQ criteria of habitual physical activity assessment,
the survey results revealed a high physical activity level in 51.2% (47.2% of women
and 60.2% of men), moderate physical activity level in 40.5% (42.4% of women and
36.2% of men), and a low physical activity level in 8.3% (10.4% of women and 3.6%
of men) of all respondents (Table 5).
Table 6 presents a multivariate logistic regression model illustrating the relationship between the level of physical activity (dependent variable) and gender (independent variable) of students from Wrocław. The likelihood ratio (LR) and the Wald
test (χ2) results indicate that the students’ gender significantly determined their level
of physical activity. Men were characterized more often than women by high (OR
= 3.73, CI: 1.63–8.52) and moderate (OR = 2.5, CI: 1.08–5.78) levels of activity
rather than low levels of physical activity.
4 Discussion
The analysis of research results shows that students from Wrocław were most
often characterized by high or average levels of physical activity. The relatively
high level of physical activity of university students is not surprising, and it has
already been noted by Bergier (2012), Biernat (2011), Doyle et al. (2019), Mynarski
et al. (2009), and Osipov et al. (2020). This age group is usually characterized by
good health and considerable leisure time resources, which allow them to perform
various forms of physical activity quite freely. Moreover, participation in institutionalized physical education activities, tourism societies or university sports clubs
provides a favorable environment for students to engage in physical activity. Moreover, according to Sochock and Wojtylk (2013), Umiastowska and Szczepanowska
(2005) and Zarzeczna-Baran and Wojdak-Haas (2007), university students are also
often very aware of the positive role of physical activity in shaping their own health,
including their well-being, as well as their appearance and interpersonal relationships.