Physical Activity Behaviors and Campus Recreation Use of Students Enrolled in Summer Transition Programs at a Large Northeastern United States University
This study looked at the physical activity behaviors and campus recreation use of students in a summer transition program at a large university in the Northeastern United States. Results showed that women participated in less aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity compared to men, and there were disparities in the use of certain facilities between genders. The study suggests that summer transitional programs could address these disparities by promoting physical activity.
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the physical activity behaviors and campus recreation use of students enrolled in a summer transition (high school to university) program. The physical activity behaviors and socio-demographic characteristics of summer transition program students from a large Northeastern United States university were collected via an online survey. Descriptive statistics were computed, and disparities between genders were examined using independent samples t-tests. Women participated in less aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity compared to men (p < .05); and, among those who used the primary campus recreation facility, women reported lower use of both weights and informal sports areas, and higher use of group exercise compared to men (p < .05). Cardio area and indoor running track use did not differ between men and women. In summary, there appears to be an opportunity for university summer transitional programs to address disparities in physical activity by expanding coverage to address a currently unmet need for physical activity promotion.