Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019
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Date of Graduation
Spring 2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Department
Department of Kinesiology
Advisor(s)
M. Kent Todd
Abstract
Physical activity, campus recreation (CR) use, body mass index (BMI), and varied health indices were compared between academic discipline (AD) groups and sex. Participants (n = 219) were classified as AD I (kinesiology and physical education majors), AD II (health science majors and nursing majors), and AD III (representative sample of other non-health-related majors) in order to make between group comparisons based on the amount of emphasis placed on physical activity and health-related content within different disciplines. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between the academic discipline groups for International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) scores, CR minutes, CR days, CR time per day, vigorous physical activity (VPA), and perceived-health score; and between sex for BMI, VPA, sitting (SIT), fiber intake, and fruit and vegetable intake. When measuring CR use in total minutes per semester, days per semester, and minutes per day AD I was higher than AD II by 100%, 66%, and 21%, respectively; and AD I was higher than AD III by 247%, 160%, and 27%, respectively. The results indicate a positive relationship between the emphasis placed physical activity and health within an academic discipline and the degree to which students participate in physical activity, positive health behaviors and perceived health.
Recommended Citation
Gathman, Patrick C., "Selected health behaviors among undergraduate college students in different academic disciplines" (2016). Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019. 219.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/honors201019/219
