Psychosocial factors related to physical activity in young men: A study of male students studying health care in their graduating year

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the correlation between psychosocial factors and exercise habits in male undergraduate students to obtain foundational data on the necessary factors for establishing exercise habits. Methods The participants were 13 male undergraduate students in their graduating year learning about health care. Exercise habits were assessed based on the definition of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Items evaluated included exercise self-efficacy (exercise SE) and subjective health (using the Subjective Well-being Inventory, SUBI). Results Comparing the exercise (n = 6) and non-exercise groups (n = 7) revealed a significant difference in exercise SE (9.0 ± 4.2 and 15.2 ± 3.3 points, respectively) (p <0.05). Exercise habits showed significant correlations with exercise SE (r = 0.658) and the SUBI sub-scale “social support” (r = 0.601, p <0.05). Conclusions Maintaining high exercise SE and involvement with the people in one’s life may help promote habitual exercise.