Wellness and Motivation in a Physical Education Course Over a Semester: Examining the Interaction Effects that Motivation has on Wellness Outcomes

Objective: This study reports the results that physical education classes have on college students' overall wellbeing and motivation over the course of a semester. This study examines the pre/post outcomes of a physical education course on 12 dimensions of wellness and motivation from the start of the semester to the end of the semester.Participants: College students (N = 1193) taking Physical Education 101 (PED101) over the course of a semester.Methods: Beginning (pre) and end (post) of the semester assessments for wellbeing and motivation were conducted using the Wellness Inventory. Quantitative outcomes from the Wellness Inventory were compared pre/post as well as demographic variables (e.g., gender & exercise frequency). Regression analysis was also conducted to examine how motivation may affect wellness. Results: All 12 dimensions of wellness and motivation showed increases from the start of the semester to the end of the semester. Motivation was also positively correlated with increases in wellness scores. The results found statistically significant changes between the pre- and post-assessments for all dimensions of wellness outcomes and motivation scores. There were also significant changes between the pre- and post-assessments when investigating differences based on sex.Conclusion: PED101 courses can be useful interventions to help move college students towards wellness.

Using Physical Education Courses to Help Increase Well-Being of RN-BSN Nursing Students: An Exploratory Analysis of Outcomes

Background: Student health and wellness has been a growing concern over the years. Evidence is showing that behaviors and health patterns developed in college tend to hold through the years after graduation.Aim: To examine the pre-post wellness outcomes of nursing students taking a physical education course in an online accelerated Registered Nurse-Bachelor of Science Nursing (RN-BSN) program at a university in the Southeast region of the United States.Methods: An online course with incorporated physical activities and tutorials was designed based on the Travis Wellness Inventory to teach about 12 different dimensions of wellness. Students completed modules that addressed different aspects of wellness. Wellness was assessed using the Wellness Inventory and pre-post outcomes were examined. Results: The results found statistically significant changes between the pre and post assessments for all dimensions of wellness outcomes. There were also significant changes between the pre and post assessments when investigating differences based on gender with females improving on all 12 dimensions and males on 4.Conclusion: Introductory Physical Education (PED101) courses may be useful in improving wellness and reducing stress and turnover for RN-BSN students.

Teaching Wellness in a College Physical Education Course: Pre/Post Outcomes over the Semester

Background: Over the years, college student wellness has become an issue of concern. This study reports the results that physical education classes and effects they on college student overall wellness over the course of a semester.Aim: This study examines the pre/post outcomes of a physical education course on 12 dimensions of wellness from the start of the semester to the end of the semester.Methods: College students (N = 1,497) taking a PED101 were assessed at the beginning (pre) and end (post) of the semester for wellbeing outcomes according to the Wellness Inventory. Quantitative outcomes from the Wellness Inventory were compared pre/post as well as demographic variables (e.g., gender and health status).Results: All 12 dimensions of wellness showed increases from the start of the semester to the end of the semester. The results found statistically significant changes between the pre and post assessments for all dimensions of wellness outcomes. There were also significant changes between the pre and post assessments when investigating differences based on sex and health status.Conclusion: PED101 courses can be useful interventions to help move college students towards wellness.

Hodnocení individuální míry pohybové aktivity dotazníky IPAQ a Wellness Inventory: případová studie

Questionnaire surveys are relatively quick, cheap and effective way of obtaining data and as such are used as a basis for designing intervention programs, and consequently also in individual work with a client. The quantitative nature of questionnaire method, however, does not cover the qualitative characteristics of individual changes in behavior and as such is limited as to the interpretation of individual behavior changes. This case study compared two questionnaire instruments – International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and Wellness Inventory (WI) in order to explain their advantages and disadvantages, and the ability to reflect the qualitative factors affecting the current level of physical activity of individuals. IPAQ was confirmed as a tool for monitoring the objective amount of physical activity with limited capacity for measuring individual changes. Conversely, WI focuses more on the subjective evaluation of the level of physical activity as one of the examined dimensions and is more burdened by subjective bias. Neither of the instruments directly reflected external factors (seasons, health, job change, motivation), whereas WI has been more sensitive to these influences. Both tools can be used to monitor changes in physical activity. To enhance the ability to interpret individual change it is recommended to supplement other instrumental and qualitative methods.