Factors Associated with Exercise Behavior among Undergrad Students During The COVID-19 Pandemic A Cross-Sectional Correlation Study
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Abstract
Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between body mass index, income, health perceptions, and exercise behavior among undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Design: A cross-sectional correlation study.
Methods: The samples were junior nursing students from a faculty of nursing in one university in the academic year of 2020. The sample size was 110 students who were obtained from simple random sampling. Data were collected by using personal information questionnaire, health perception questionnaires, and exercise behavior questionnaire. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, and Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient.
Main findings: The results of the study showed that income, body mass index, and perceived benefits of exercise were positively correlated with exercise behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic at significance level .05 (r = .18, p < .05; r = .21, p < .05; and r = .22, p < .05, respectively). Perceived barriers of exercise was negatively correlated with exercise behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic at significance level .05 (r = - .23, p < .05).
Conclusion and recommendations: Perceived benefits of exercise and perceived barriers of exercise were correlated with exercise behavior. Therefore, health care providers and policymakers should promote and support an exercise promoting program for undergraduate students by enhancing their perceived benefits of exercise and self-efficacy in overcoming obstacles to regularly perform exercise even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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