Investigating Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Depression Among Military University Students

Year 2024, , 1078 - 1087, 25.09.2024

Nur Hanan Mohd Najib , Rozita Abdul Latif , Hasmiza Abdul Majeed , Yulingga Nanda Hanief , Carsiwan Carsiwan

https://doi.org/10.33438/ijdshs.1506758

Abstract

The demands of living as a university student have caused an increasing number of students to experience poor mental health. Failure to adequately address these demands might lead to students suffering from mental health issues including depression. Thus, exploring leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) may play a crucial role in understanding students’ depression. The present study is designed to examine the association between LTPA and depression among National Defense University of Malaysia (UPNM) students. A cross-sectional research design was employed, and data was collected via a set of questionnaires among the sample of 381 UPNM students. Self-report questionnaires, consisting of Godin LTPA and patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) were distributed to the students. Correlation analyses were performed to examine the association between LTPA and depression. The analysis demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between LTPA and depression (r=0.104, p<0.05). Further studies are warranted to categorize the diverse types of leisure activities prevalent among military university students. Such research could provide valuable. Insights, enabling more information and direction on the selection of leisure activities to mitigate depression. The LTPA is recommended to alleviate depressive levels among military university students. The university and management should offer a few interventions to enhance students’ leisure-time physical activity.

Keywords

Leisure-Time Physical Activity (LTPA), Depression, university student

Ethical Statement

It is our pleasure to inform you that the Research Ethics Committee has agreed to grant an ethics approval for the said study.

Supporting Institution

UiTM (Universiti Teknologi MARA)

Project Number

100-KNS(PJI.9/19)

Thanks

We are very grateful to the experts for their appropriate and constructive suggestions to improve this template.

References

• Ahmad, N., Razak, M., Naidu, B., Awaluddin, S., Chan, Y., Kasim, N., & Ibrahim, N. (2015). Mental health problems of adults. Institute for Public Health (Ed.), National Health and Morbidity Survey, 2, 185-189.
• Asif, S., Mudassar, A., Shahzad, T.Z., Raouf, M. & Pervaiz, T. (2020). Frequency of depression, anxiety and stress among university students. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 36(5), 971-976. [CrossRef]
• Aswegen, A.S.V.,& Engelbrecht, A.S.(2009). The relationship between transformational leadership, integrity and an ethical climate in organisations. S A Journal of Human Resource Management, 7(1), 1-9. [CrossRef]
• Awais, M., Chaudhery, M.M., Shahzeb Khan, M., Butt, A., Malik, A.R., Shahzeb Khan, M., et al., (2021). Factors contributing to distress among school and college-going adolescents during COVID-19 Lockdown: A cross-sectional study conducted in Sibi Balochistan, Pakistan. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 10(1), 317–317. [PubMed]
• Bélair, M.A., Kohen, D., Kingsbury, M., & Colman, I. (2018). Relationship between leisure time physical activity, sedentary behaviour and symptoms of depression and anxiety: evidence from a population-based sample of Canadian adolescents. BMJ Open, 8(10), e021119–e021119. [PubMed]
• Bélair, M.A., Kohen, D.A, Kingsbury, M., Colman, I. (2018). Relationship between leisure time physical activity, sedentary behaviour and symptoms of depression and anxiety: evidence from a population-based sample of Canadian adolescents. BMJ Open, 8 (10), e02119. [PubMed]
• Bukhari, S.A.R. (2021). Sample Size Determination Using Krejcie and Morgan Table. [CrossRef]
• Bull, F., Al-Ansari, S. S., Stuart, Katja Borodulin, Buman, M. P., Cardon, G., Carty, C., Chaput, J.-P., Sebastien, Chou, R., et al. (2020). World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(24, 1451-1462. [CrossRef]
• Currier, D., Lindner, R., Spittal, M. J., Cvetkovski, S., Pirkis, J., & English, D. R. (2020). Physical activity and depression in men: Increased activity duration and intensity associated with lower likelihood of current depression. Journal of Affective Disorder, 260, 426–431. [PubMed]
• Dias, G., Oancea, S.C., Nucci, L.B., & Vogeltanz-Holm, N. (2017). The association between physical activity and depression among individuals residing in Brazil. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 53(4), 373–383. [PubMed]
• Gabal, A., Wahdan, M. A., & Gamal Eldin A. (2022). Prevalence Of Anxiety, Depression and Stress Among Medical Students, And Associated Factors. Egyptian Journal of Occupational Medicine, 46(1), 55–74. [CrossRef]
• Godin, G. (2011). The Godin-Shephard leisure-time physical activity questionnaire. The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada, 4(1), 18-22. [CrossRef]
• Haque, M., Rahman, N.A.A., McKimm, J., Kibria, G.M., Majumder, A.M.A., Haque, S.Z., et al., (2019). Self-medication of antibiotics: investigating practice among university students at the Malaysian National Defence University. Infection and Drug Resistance, 12, 1333–1351. [PubMed]
• Hassan, M.F., Hassan, N.M., Kassim, E.S., & Hamzah, M.I. (2018). Issues and Challenges of Mental Health in Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 8(12), 1685–1696. [CrossRef]
• Hosker, D. K., Elkins, R.M., & Potter, M. P. (2019). Promoting Mental Health and Wellness in Youth Through Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Sleep. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 28(2), 171–193. [PubMed]
• Ijaz, F., Razaq, Y., Rana Khurram Aftab, Ambreen Tauseef, Ijaz, M., & Razaq, J. (2020). Relationship of physical activity and depression among military and non-military medical students. Pakistan Journal of Physiology, 16(1), 28–30.
• Jo, H., Lee, J.-H., Lee, S., Lee, H., Ahn, Y.S., & Koh, S.B. (2021). The longitudinal effect of leisure time physical activity on reduced depressive symptoms: The ARIRANG Study. Journal of Affective Disorder, 282, 1220–1225. [PubMed]
• Katewongsa, P., Widyastari, D.A., Saonuam, P., Haemathulin, N., & Wongsingha, N. (2021). The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical activity of the Thai population: Evidence from Thailand’s Surveillance on Physical Activity 2020. Journal of Sports and Health Science, 10(3), 341–348. [PubMed]
• Kaya, A., & Demirci, N. (2024). Examination of Changes in Sitting Time, Screen Exposure and Physical Activity Behavioral Profile in University Students Participating in Distance Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int. J. Act. Health Aging, 2(1),30-37. [CrossRef]
• Kazdin, A.E. (2018). Annual Research Review: Expanding mental health services through novel models of intervention delivery. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 60(4), 455-472. [PubMed]
• Lancet (2018). Retrieved from Globally, 1.4 billion adults at risk of disease from not doing enough physical activity (medicalxpress.com) in 23 January 2023.
• Ma, L., Hagquist, C., & Kleppang, A.L. (2020). Leisure time physical activity and depressive symptoms among adolescents in Sweden. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 997. [PubMed]
• Meyer, J.D., McDowell, C., Lansing, J., Brower, C., Smith, L., Tully, M.A., & Herring, M.P. (2020). Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Response to COVID-19 and Their Associations with Mental Health in 3052 US Adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), 6469–6469. [PubMed]
• Nakshine, V.S., Thute, P., Khatib, M.N. & Sarkar, B. (2022). Increased Screen Time as a Cause of Declining Physical, Psychological Health, and Sleep Patterns: A Literary Review. Cureus, 14(10), e30051. [PubMed]
• Othman, M. N. A., & Rashid, M. A. A. (2018). Stress and Mental Health of Undergradute Students at a Private Higher Learning Institution in Malaysia. Journal of Social Sciences, 4(2), 453-465. [CrossRef]
• Özkılıç, S., & Demirel, M. (2022). Perception of Compassion in Individuals Who Do Pilates and Fitness As Serious Leisure Time Activity. Turkish Journal of Sports Sciences, 7(1), 1-17. [CrossRef]
• Patel, V., Saxena, S., Lund, C., Thornicroft, G., Baingana, F., Bolton, P., et al., (2018). The Lancet Commission on global mental health and sustainable development. 392(10157), 1553–1598. [PubMed]
• Patel, V., Saxena, S., Lund, C., Thornicroft, G., Baingana, F., Bolton, P., et al., (2018). The Lancet Commission on global mental health and sustainable development. Lancet, 392(10157),1553-1598. [PubMed]
• Piercy, K. L., Troiano, R. P., Ballard, R. M., Carlson, S. A., Fulton, J. E., Galuska, D. A., George, S. M., & Olson, R. K. (2018). The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. JAMA, 320(19), 2020–2028. [PubMed]
• Rodriguez-Ayllon, M., Cadenas-Sánchez, C., Estévez- López, F., Muñoz, N., Mora-Gonzalez, J., Migueles, J. H., et al., (2019). Role of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in the Mental Health of Preschoolers, Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine, 49(9), 1383–1410. [PubMed]
• Schuch, F.B., Vancampfort, D., Firth, J., Rosenbaum, S., Ward, P.B., Silva, E.S., et al., (2018). Physical Activity and Incident Depression: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 175(7), 631–648. [PubMed]
• Schwartz, K.D., Exner-Cortens, D., McMorris, C.A., Makarenko, E., Arnold, P., Bavel, M.V., Williams, S., & Canfield, R. (2021). COVID-19 and Student Well-Being: Stress and Mental Health during Return-to-School. Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 36(2), 166–185. [PubMed]
• Singh, M., Sharma, P., Raj, D., Sharma, S., Kaushal, A., & Raina, S. K. (2018). Leisure Time Physical Activity and Risk of Developing Depression among the Youth of Kangra District, Himachal Pradesh, India. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 40(5), 426–432. [PubMed]
• Sitoayu, L., Choirunnisa, S., Pakpahan, T. H., & Rosdyaningrum, S. (2020). Nutritional Knowledge, Dietary Assessment, Physical Activity, Body Fat Percentage, and Nutritional Status of Police Officers. Journal of Health Education, 5(1), 39-48. [CrossRef]
• Stuart, Ciaccioni, S., Thomas, G., & Ineke Vergeer. (2019). Physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents: An updated review of reviews and an analysis of causality. 42, 146–155. [CrossRef]
• Talapko, J., Perić, I., Vulić, P., Pustijanac, E., Jukić, M., Bekić, S., Meštrović, T., & Škrlec, I. (2021). Mental Health and Physical Activity in Health-Related University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare, 9(7), 801–801. [PubMed]
• World Health Organization (WHO). (2019, December 19). Mental health. Who.int; World Health Organization: WHO. https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health.