The Effects of Summer on Body Composition, Perceived Stress Level and Body Awareness of Young Women and Men: A University Example

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of summer on body composition, perceived stress and body awareness in young female and male university students. Methods: A total of 130 students (77 females, 53 males) aged between 18 and 26 years without any health complaints participated in the study. Body composition, stress level, body awareness and physical activity level of the participants were evaluated before the summer season in May-June and after the summer season in September-October. Bioelectrical impedance analysis, perceived stress scale, body awareness questionnaire and international physical activity scale were used for these assessments, respectively. Results: Statistical analysis revealed a statistically significant decrease in perceived stress, basal metabolic rate and cellular mass analyses in both sexes when the values before and after the summer season were compared (p<0.05). Body awareness level and physical activity level were also statistically significantly increased in women (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that body composition parameters, perceived stress, body awareness and physical activity levels may change after the summer season, especially in women.

Keywords

• Body awareness
• body composition
• perceived stress
• physical activity level
• seasonal change.

Genç Bireylerin Vücut Kompozisyonu, Algılanan Stres Düzeyi ve Vücut Farkındalığında Yaz Mevsiminin Etkisi: Bir Üniversite Örneği

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, genç kadın ve erkek üniversite öğrencilerinde yaz mevsiminin vücut kompozisyonu, algılanan stres ve vücut farkındalığı üzerindeki etkisini araştırmaktır. Yöntemler: Çalışmaya 18-26 yaş aralığında, herhangi bir sistemik hastalığı veya sağlık şikâyeti olmayan 77 kadın 53 erkek olmak üzere toplam 130 öğrenci katıldı. Katılımcıların yaz mevsimi öncesi Mayıs-Haziran aylarında ve yaz mevsimi sonrası Eylül-Ekim aylarında vücut kompozisyonu, stres düzeyi, vücut farkındalığı ve fiziksel aktivite düzeyi değerlendirildi. Bu değerlendirmeler için sırasıyla biyoelektriksel impedans analizi, algılanan stres ölçeği, vücut farkındalık anketi ve uluslararası fiziksel aktivite ölçeği kullanıldı. Bulgular: İstatistiksel analiz sonucunda yaz mevsimi öncesi ve sonrası değerler karşılaştırıldığında, her iki cinsiyette algılanan stres, bazal metabolizma hızı ve hücresel kütlesel analizlerde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir azalma saptandı (p<0.05). Kadınlarda vücut farkındalık düzeyi ve fiziksel aktivite düzeyinin de istatistiksel olarak anlamlı derecede arttığı görüldü (p<0.05). Sonuç: Sonuç olarak yaz mevsimi sonrası kişilerin vücut kompozisyonu parametrelerinin, algılanan stres, vücut farkındalığı ve fiziksel aktivite düzeyinin özellikle kadınlarda daha fazla değişebileceği bulundu.

Keywords

• Algılanan stres
• fiziksel aktivite düzeyi
• mevsim değişimi
• vücut kompozisyonu
• vücut farkındalığı.

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