The Impact of College Students Engagement in Physical Activities

JOURNAL CRITIQUE

Journal Critique

Article 1

Physical activity among college students has reduced while their sedentary behavior and tendencies have increased. Few studies have sought to examine this phenomenon and its impact – particularly on the academic performance front. Some of the few studies conducted show that there exists a relationship between physical activity and academic outcomes. For instance, in the article titled, College Student Work Habits are related to Physical Activity and Fitness, the authors examine the connection between academic outcomes, physical activity, and fitness measures (body composition, flexibility, muscular endurance, and cardiovascular endurance) among college students. The article restated findings that indicated positive relationship between academic outcomes and fitness among youth aged 12-18 years old. However, there was no direct relationship established between engagement in physical activities/exercises and academic performance among college students.

Jesse et al. (2017) used a sample of 512 students to examine the relationship between fitness and academic performance. The authors made use of the fitness assessment survey to collect fitness information of students who had enrolled for nutritional credit physical activity classes. In essence, there was no relationship between fitness and GPA established. Further, there was no clear relationship between academic performance and BMI among college students. These findings, as the authors of the study indicate, do not align with the findings of studies conducted in the past that largely targeted 12-18 year olds.

I am of the opinion that the article focused on a topic that is important in higher education, particularly on physical fitness College administrators, fitness departments, campus health departments, and college student healthcare providers need to impact fitness and lifelong health by advising on preventative interventions. I am further convinced that there is need for further studies to be conducted in this particular area because to some extent, the findings in the present study are counterintuitive. This is more so the case given that there is general consensus that reduced physical activity has a positive impact on both physical and mental health. Poor mental heal and physical health, on the other hand, could negatively impact academic performance.

Article 2

The article, Physical Activity and Physical Fitness among University Students - A Systematic Review, seeks to examine the connection between physical fitness and physical activity among university students. In this particular study, the authors made use of a sample size of 7675 participants from universities to examine the relationship between physical fitness and physical activity among learners in college. The researchers conducted two relationship types, i.e. relationship between academic performance and physical fitness, and relationship between daytime sleep time, physical fitness, daily physical activity, and depression. The researchers found that there was moderate level of physical activity and physical fitness among university students.

The authors are categorical that the topic on physical activity is important in higher education owing to the fact that universities are ideal environments for promotion of physical activity and physical fitness. According to Kljajevic et al. (2022), lack of physical activity negatively affects health. An observation has also been made to the effect that one of the common barriers to physical activity among students happens to be lack of time as a consequence of school, familial as well as social obligations. These could be factored in plans to develop a physical activity regimen in institutions of higher learning. The authors are of the opinion that the relationship between physical fitness maintenance and physical activity could vary depending on a multitude of factors. Such factors are inclusive of, but they are not limited to, the education system in place and cultural differences.