Is Achieving the Guidelines of Four Forms of Physical Activity Associated with Less Self-Reported Health Complaints? Cross-Sectional Study of Undergraduates at the University of Turku, Finland
Open Access
- 2 August 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by MDPI AG in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
- Vol. 17 (15), 5595
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155595
Abstract
Very little research has assessed the physical activity (PA) of university students in in Finland, and their associations with self-reported health complaints (HCs), whilst simultaneously accounting for a range of other potential confounders. Students at the University of Turku (1177) completed an online health and wellbeing questionnaire that assessed 22 physical and somatic HCs, and students’ achievement of the international guidelines of four forms of PA (moderate, vigorous, moderate-to-vigorous and muscle strengthening PA; MPA, VPA, MVPA, MSPA respectively). We also explored the associations between HCs and PA, controlling for sociodemographic and health confounders (age, sex, year of study, marital status, accommodation during semesters, health awareness). Factor analysis reduced the HCs into three factors (psychological, pains/aches, circulatory/breathing). Bivariate relationships (no controlling for confounders) between these 3 factors and four forms of PA guideline achievement showed significant effects of achieving the PA guidelines against various groups of HCs, where more strenuous PA was associated with significantly less HCs in a step-ladder pattern. Multiple regression analyses (controlling for confounders) showed that achievement of PA guidelines was significantly independently associated with self-reported HCs scores in most cases. Psychological HCs were negatively associated with achieving any type of PA; pains/aches were negatively associated with achieving two types of PA or with achieving MSPA guidelines; and circulatory/breathing HCs were negatively associated with achieving the VPA guidelines only. This is the first study in Finland to examine such relationships, and highlights the critical role of PA for the health of these young adults. Programs and policies to strengthen and improve the PA of university students would be beneficial, recognizing the benefits of instilling life-long PA habits among this group of young adults.This publication has 83 references indexed in Scilit:
- Effect of working characteristics and taught ergonomics on the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders amongst dental studentsBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2013
- Prevalence and factors associated with irritable bowel syndrome among medical students of Karachi, Pakistan: A cross-sectional studyBMC Research Notes, 2012
- Relationships between food consumption and living arrangements among university students in four European countries - A cross-sectional studyNutrition Journal, 2012
- Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms among German studentsEuropean Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2011
- Does the Association between Depressive Symptomatology and Physical Activity Depend on Body Image Perception? A Survey of Students from Seven Universities in the UKInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2011
- Is the Health and Wellbeing of University Students Associated with their Academic Performance? Cross Sectional Findings from the United KingdomInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2010
- Patterns of Adolescent Physical Activity, Screen-Based Media Use, and Positive and Negative Health Indicators in the U.S. and CanadaJournal of Adolescent Health, 2009
- The Contribution of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviours to the Growth and Development of Children and AdolescentsSports Medicine, 2007
- Evidence Based Physical Activity for School-age YouthThe Journal of Pediatrics, 2005
- PERCEIVED STRESS AND HEALTH COMPLAINTS: AN EXAMINATION OF THE MODERATING ROLES OF PERSONALITY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITYPerceptual and Motor Skills, 2004