Campus Recreation Use and Health Behaviors among College Students in Different Academic Disciplines
Physical activity, campus recreation (CR) use, body mass index (BMI), and varied health indices were compared between academic discipline 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 non-health-related majors) 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 < .05) were found between the academic discipline groups for International Physical Activity Questionnaire scores, CR minutes, CR days, CR time per day, vigorous physical activity (VPA), and perceived-health score; and between sex for BMI, VPA, sitting, fiber intake, and fruit and vegetable intake. 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.