Physical Activity Levels of Individuals Employed in the Sports Directorate

Year 2024, Volume: 13 Issue: 2, 126 - 132, 30.04.2024

Arslan Kalkavan Esranur Terzi

https://doi.org/10.22282/tojras.1429628

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the physical activity levels of civil servants employed in a sports-related state institution, with a focus on individual factors and their attitudes toward physical exercise. The research cohort comprised 160 individuals, randomly selected from employees working in the sports directorate, consisting of 79 women and 81 men. Data collection was conducted through an online questionnaire encompassing a personal information form and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square analyses were employed for data analysis, supplemented by calculations of Cohen's d effect sizes to assess the relationship between variables. Results from the analysis revealed that 19.40% of sports directorate employees were categorized as inactive, 20.60% as minimally active, and 60.0% as sufficiently active. Furthermore, significant disparities in physical activity levels were observed concerning gender, age, marital status, and sports history (p<0.05). The findings underscore a deficiency in adequate physical exercise participation, particularly among women, married individuals, and the elderly. This discrepancy suggests that the sports institution, entrusted with the administration and promotion of sports, may lack the desired level of representation and incentives within the broader populace. Considering the pivotal role of active physical engagement for health benefits, it is reasonable to infer that employees within the provincial sports directorate may lack adequate knowledge or serve as insufficient role models in this regard.

Keywords

Exercise, physical activity, officer

Ethical Statement

The study was approved by the Social Sciences and Humanities Ethics Committee of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University (number: 2023/144, Date: 13/04/2023).

References

• 1.        Bergier J, Bergier B, Tsos A. Variations in physical activity of male and female students from the Ukraine in health-promoting lifestyle. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2017;24(2). https://doi.org/10.5604/12321966.1230674
• 2.        Hall G, Laddu DR, Phillips SA, Lavie CJ, Arena R. A tale of two pandemics: How will COVID 19 and global trends in physical inactivity and sedentary behavior affect one another?. Prog Cardiovasc Dis, 2020;S0033-0620(20):30077-3.
• 3.        Murtagh E, Shalash A, Martin R, Rmeileh NA. Measurement and prevalence of adult physical activity levels in Arab countries. Public Health, 2021;198:129-140.
• 4.        Singh A. Gender differences of physical activity in university students. Int J Yogic Hum Mov Sports Sci, 2019;4:374-377.
• 5.        Bengoechea EG, Clifford AM, Gallagher S, O’Regan A, O’Sullivan N, Casey M, Woods CB. Juggling with theory, evidence, practice, and real-world circumstances: Development of a complex community intervention to increase physical activity in inactive adults aged 50 years and older–the move for life study. Eval Program Plan, 2021;89:101983.
• 6.        Petersen JM, Kemps E, Lewis LK, Prichard I. Promoting physical activity during the COVID-19 lockdown in Australia: The roles of psychological predictors and commercial physical activity apps. Psychol Sport Exerc, 2021;56:102002.
• 7.        Evans E, Naugle KE, Kaleth AS, Arnold B, Naugle KM. Physical activity intensity, perceived exertion, and enjoyment during head-mounted display virtual reality games. Games Health Journal, 2021;10(5):314-320.
• 8.        Haapala EA, Gao Y, Hartikainen J, Rantalainen T, Finni T. Associations of fitness, motor competence, and adiposity with the indicators of physical activity intensity during different physical activities in children. Sci Rep, 2021;11(1):1-11.
• 9.        Kalkavan A, Özkara AB, Alemdağ C, Çavdar S. Investigation of the physical activity participation levels and obesity status of academic staff. Int J Sport Cul Sci, 2016;4(1):329-339.
• 10.     Caspersen CJ, Powell KE, Christenson GM. Physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness: definitions and distinctions for health related research. Public Health Rep, 1985;100:126–131.
• 11.     Speck BJ, Harrell JS. Maintaining regular physical activity in women: Evidence to date. Journal Cardiovasc Nurs, 2003;18(4):282-293.
• 12.     Bentzen M, Brurok B, Roeleveld K, Hoff M, Jahnsen R, Wouda MF, Baumgart JK. Changes in physical activity and basic psychological needs related to mental health among people with physical disability during the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway. Disabil Health Journal, 2021;14(4):101126.
• 13.     Kayhan RF, Kalkavan A, Terzi E. Exercise addiction levels of individuals exercising in fitness centers and related variables. Addic Journal, 2021;22(3):248-256.
• 14.     Gilchrist JD, Conroy DE, Sabiston CM. Associations between alcohol consumption and physical activity in breast cancer survivors. J Behaviour Medicine, 2020;43:166-173.
• 15.     Kırbaş Ş. Gençlik ve Spor İl Müdürlüğü personelinin fiziksel aktivite düzeyi ile yaşam kalitesi arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi. Gazi Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 2020;25(3):213-224.
• 16.     Saunders TJ, McIsaac T, Douillette K, Gaulton N, Hunte S, Rhodes RE. Sedentary behaviour and health in adults: an overview of systematic reviews. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab, 2020;45(2).
• 17.     Arabacı R, Çankaya C. Beden eğitimi öğretmenlerinin fiziksel aktivite düzeylerinin araştırılması. Uludağ Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 2017;20(1):1-15.
• 18.     Karadağ M, Çınar V, Öner S. Fırat üniversitesi'nde çalışan akademik personelin fiziksel aktivite düzeylerinin belirlenmesi. Electronic Turkish Studies, 2018;13(11).
• 19.     Craig CL, Marshall AL, Sjöström M, Bauman AE, Booth ML, Ainsworth BE, Oja P. International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 2003;35(8):1381-1395. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.0000078924.61453.FB
• 20.     Martins J, Sarmento H, Marques A, Nicola PJ. Physical activity recommendations for health: knowledge and perceptions among college students. Retos, 2019;36:290–296. http://hdl.handle. net/10451/ 39960.
• 21.     Hamrani A, Mehdad S, El Kari K, El Hamdouchi A, El Menchawy I, Belghiti H, Aguenaou H. Physical activity and dietary habits among Moroccan adolescents. Public Health Nutr, 2015;18(10):1793-1800. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980014002274
• 22.     Healthy Ireland. Healthy Ireland Survey, Summary Report 2019. Government publications. https:// www. gov.i e/ en/ colle ction/231c02- healt hy- irela nd- survey- wave/. [Accessed 17 Sept 2021].
• 23.     Luzak A, Heier M, Thorand B, Laxy M, Nowak D, Peters A, Kora-Study Group. Physical activity levels, duration pattern and adherence to WHO recommendations in German adults. PloS one, 2017;12(2):e0172503. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0172503
• 24.     Coen SE, Subedi RP, Rosenberg MW. Working out across Canada: Is there a gender gap?. Can Geogr, 2016;60(1):69-81. https://doi.org/10.1111/cag.12255
• 25.     Kim KB, Shin YA. Males with obesity and overweight. Journal Obes Metab Syndr, 2020;29(1):18. https://doi.org/10.7570/jomes 20008
• 26.     Castejón FJ, Giménez FJ. Teachers' perceptions of physical education content and influences on gender differences. Motriz: Revista de Educação Física, 2015;21:375-385. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1980-65742015000400006
• 27.     Doggui R, Gallant F, Bélanger M. Parental control and support for physical activity predict adolescents’ moderate to vigorous physical activity over five years. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2021;18:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-021-01107-w
• 28.     Caspersen CJ, Pereira MA, Curran KM. Changes in physical activity patterns in the United States, by sex and cross-sectional age. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 2000;32(9):1601-1609. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200009000-00013
• 29.     Derscheid LE, Umoren J, Kim SY, Henry BW, Zittel LL. Early childhood teachers' and staff members' perceptions of nutrition and physical activity practices for preschoolers. Journal Res Child Educ, 2010;24(3):248-265.
• 30.     Kimm SY, Glynn NW, Kriska AM, Barton BA, Kronsberg SS, Daniels SR, Liu K. Decline in physical activity in black girls and white girls during adolescence. N Engl Journal Med, 2002;347(10):709-715. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa003277
• 31.     Sigmund E, De Ste Croix M, Miklankova L, Frömel K. Physical activity patterns of kindergarten children in comparison to teenagers and young adults. Eur J Public Health, 2007;17(6):646-651. https:// doi.org/ 10. 1093/ eurpub/ ckm033
• 32.     Hughes VA, Frontera WR, Roubenoff R, Evans WJ, Singh MAF. Longitudinal changes in body composition in older men and women: role of body weight change and physical activity. Am Journal Clin Nutr, 2002;76(2):473-481.https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/76.2.473
• 33.     Faulkner GE, Buliung RN, Flora PK, Fusco C. Active school transport, physical activity levels and body weight of children and youth: a systematic review. Prev Medicine, 2009;48(1):3-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/jypmed.2008.10.017
• 34.     Amireault S, Godin G. The Godin-Shephard leisure-time physical activity questionnaire: validity evidence supporting its use for classifying healthy adults into active and insufficiently active categories. Percept Mot Skills, 2015;120(2):604-622. https://doi.org/10.2466/03.27.PMS.120v19x7
• 35.     Godin G, Sheeran P, Conner M, Bélanger‐Gravel A, Gallani MCB, Nolin B. Social structure, social cognition, and physical activity: A test of four models. Br Journal Health Psychol, 2010;15(1):79-95. https://doi.org/10.1348/135910709X429901
• 36.     Kahlert D. Maintenance of physical activity: Do we know what we are talking about?. Prev Med Rep, 2015;2:178-180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2015.02.013
• 37.     Gill DL, Chang YK, Murphy KM, Speed KM, Hammond CC, Rodriguez EA, Shang YT. Quality of life assessment for physical activity and health promotion. Appl Res Qual Life, 2011;6:181-200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-010-9126-2
• 38.     Gillison FB, Skevington SM, Sato A, Standage M, Evangelidou S. The effects of exercise interventions on quality of life in clinical and healthy populations; a meta-analysis. Soc Sci Medicine, 2009;68(9):1700-1710. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.02.028
• 39.     Boylu AA, Paçacıoğlu B. Quality of life and indicators. J Ac Res Stu, 2016;8(15);137- https://doi.org/10.20990/266011
• 40.    Yıldırım Dİ, Yıldırım A, Eryılmaz MA. Relationship between physical activity and quality of life in health workers. Cukurova Med Journal, 2019;44(2):325-333. https://doi.org/10.17826/cumj.451087164, 20 169