Physical Activity Levels of Medical Students: a global issue to be addressed

Year 2022, Volume: 12 Issue: 6, 937 - 943, 30.11.2022

Tuba Baykal , Feray Soyupek

https://doi.org/10.16899/jcm.1190953

Abstract

Aim: Regular physical activity has been shown to have positive effects on general health, cognitive functions, and mental health. The vast majority of university students do not meet the physical activity recommendations of well-accepted guidelines. In this study, we aimed to determine the physical activity levels (PALs) of medical school students and the related factors.
Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional, observational survey study. The survey was conducted with an online Google survey tool. Five hundred and twenty-eight students who approved the voluntary consent form were included in the study. A questionnaire including sociodemographic data and questions about personal lifestyle were used. The physical activity levels of the participants were determined with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form (IPAQ-SF), depression and anxiety levels were determined with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), respectively.
Results: The mean total IPAQ-SF scores of the participants were 1658±1793.91 METs. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between BDI scores and PALs (r=-0.102, p=0.019). The PALs of those who had active hobbies and those who participated in regular sports activities were statistically significantly higher (p<0.001, p=0.001, respectively). BDI and BAI scores of those with active hobby were statistically significantly lower than those without (13.60±7.57 vs 16.46±9.59, p<0.001; 10.33±8.31 vs 12.64±10.13, p=0.004, respectively).
Conclusion: In conclusion, having an active hobby and participation in sports activities positively affects the PALs and the mental well-being of medical students.

Keywords

Physical activity, depression, anxiety, medical faculty students

Thanks

We would like to thank Z. A. Kaymak (M.D., Asst. Prof.) for her support in the statistical analysis of the study data and G.O. Unal (M.D., Asst. Prof.) for her contributions to the evaluation of mental health.

Tıp Fakültesi Öğrencilerinin Fiziksel Aktivite Düzeyleri: küresel bir sorun

Abstract

Amaç: Düzenli fiziksel aktivitenin genel sağlık, bilişsel işlevler ve zihinsel sağlık üzerinde olumlu etkileri gösterilmiştir. Üniversite öğrencilerinin büyük çoğunluğu, kabul görmüş rehberlerin fiziksel aktivite önerilerini karşılamamaktadır. Bu çalışmada tıp fakültesi öğrencilerinin fiziksel aktivite düzeyleri ve ilişkili faktörleri belirlemeyi amaçladık.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmamız kesitsel ve gözlemsel bir anket çalışmasıdır. Çalışmada çevrimiçi bir Google anket aracı kullanıldı. Gönüllü onam formunu onaylayan beş yüz yirmi sekiz öğrenci çalışmaya dahil edildi. Sosyodemografik verileri ve kişisel yaşam tarzını sorgulayan bir anket kullanıldı. Katılımcıların fiziksel aktivite düzeyleri Uluslararası Fiziksel Aktivite Anketi-kısa formu (IPAQ-SF) ile, depresyon ve anksiyete düzeyleri sırasıyla Beck Depresyon Ölçeği (BDÖ) ve Beck Anksiyete Ölçeği (BAÖ) ile belirlendi.
Bulgular: Katılımcıların ortalama toplam IPAQ-SF puanları 1658±1793,91 MET idi. BDÖ skoru ile fiziksel aktivite düzeyi arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı negatif korelasyon bulundu (r=-0.102, p=0.019). Aktif hobisi ve düzenli fiziksel aktivite katılımı olanların fiziksel aktivite düzeyleri istatistiksel anlamlılıkla daha yüksekti (sırasıyla, p<0.001, p=0.001). Aktif hobisi olanların BDÖ ve BAÖ skorları olmayanlara göre istatistiksel anlamlılıkla daha düşük saptandı (sırasıyla,13.60±7.57 vs 16.46±9.59, p<0.001; 10.33±8.31 vs 12.64±10.13, p=0.004).
Sonuç: Aktif hobi varlığı ve düzenli fiziksel aktivite katılımı tıp fakültesi öğrencilerinde fiziksel aktivite düzeyi ve mental sağlığı olumlu etkilemektedir.

Keywords

fiziksel aktivite, depresyon, anksiyete, tıp fakültesi öğrencileri

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