FACTORS RELATED TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF KASETSART UNIVERSITY’ STUDENTS CHALERMPRAKIAT SAKONNAKHON PROVINCE CAMPUS

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the factors associated with physical activity among students at Kasetsart University, Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus. Data were collected using a questionnaire administered to a sample of 380 undergraduate students selected through multi-stage random sampling. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were employed for data analysis.

The results showed that knowledge of physical activity was positively correlated with attitude and reinforcing factors at a very low level (r = 0.011 and r = 0.02), reflecting weak statistical associations with limited practical significance. In contrast, physical activity behavior showed positive correlations with attitude (r = 0.175) and reinforcing factors (r = 0.145) at low to moderate levels, suggesting that positive attitudes and social support play a more important role in promoting physical activity than knowledge alone. Additionally, attitude was negatively correlated with reinforcing factors (r = −0.024); however, this relationship was very weak and unlikely to have practical significance.

These findings suggest that promoting physical activity among university students should emphasize the development of positive attitudes and the strengthening of social support, alongside providing supportive environments for physical activity, in order to encourage sustainable engagement in physical activity behaviors.