Relationships Between Physical Activity and the Proximity of Exercise Facilities and Home Exercise Equipment Used by Undergraduate University Students

Abstract

The authors used stratified random sampling procedures to investigate the relationships among physical activity (PA), the proximity of exercise facilities, and the quantity of home exercise equipment in a sample of 411 undergraduates. To examine the data they collected from the modified Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire and the Home Environment Questionnaire, the authors used correlational analyses and analysis of variance. Intensity and duration of PA showed a significant relationship to the proximity of exercise facilities. Intensity, frequency, and duration of PA were significantly related to the quantity of students' home exercise equipment. Freshmen and sophomores engaged in PA closer to their residences and participated in 3 more exercise bouts per week than juniors and seniors. These findings suggest that proximity of the activity episode may have an effect on PA behavior of college students.