Active Students are Healthier and Happier than Their Inactive Peers: of First Year Students Studying in Kuwait University: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 161 - 169, 25.04.2025

Salem Alshammari , Heyam Bushehry , Sultan Alsahail

https://doi.org/10.33438/ijdshs.1570770

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the impact of PA on the health and happiness of first-year students at the College of Education, Kuwait University. Methods: The final analysis of the cross-sectional study included 1454 male and female students. Happiness was evaluated using the Short Depression and Happiness Scale (SDHS), and PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the SPSS. Mann-Whitney U test and ANOVA test were used to compare PA levels between genders and happy and depressed groups. Results: Happiness was high in 83% of the students and low in 17%. PA levels were high in the students, with a median total PA among the participating students of 1810.9 MET-minutes/week. Male students were more active, with a median total score of 2402 MET-minutes/week, compared to females, with a median total score of 2312 MET-minutes/week. A significant association was observed between happiness and PA levels among the students. Statistically significant differences were found for PA and happy students (p = 0.001), and statistically significant differences were found for PA and depressed students (p = 0.02). Conclusions: The happiness among most first-year students was high, with a slight difference between males and females. The levels of PA among these students were high, especially among males. PA levels were significantly associated with happiness among first-year students. Thus, active students were happier and healthier than inactive students.

Keywords

Physical activity, Healthier, Happier, Exercise, Education Students, Inactive

References

• Alhuthil, R., Alshiban, S., Alqarni, A., Alshalawi, M., Alhaqbani, L., & Abusalih, H. (2022). Level and Associated Factors Predicting Happiness Among Princess Nourah University Students in Saudi Arabia During Covid-19 Pandemic. Bahrain Medical Bulletin, 44(2).
• Bahrami, S., Rajaeepour, S., Rizi, H. A., Zahmatkesh, M., & Nematolahi, Z. (2011). The relationship between students’ study habits, happiness and depression. Iranian journal of nursing and midwifery research, 16(3), 217. [PubMed]
• Bull, F. C., Al-Ansari, S. S., Biddle, S., Borodulin, K., Buman, M. P., Cardon, G., & Willumsen, J. F. (2020). World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. British journal of sports medicine, 54(24), 1451-1462. [PubMed]
• Burhaein, E., Demirci, N., Phytanza, D. T. P., Nadzalan, A., & Niksic, E. (2024). Is Walking a Miracle Cure for Active and Healthy Aging?. International Journal of Active & Healthy Aging, 2(1), 10–17. [CrossRef]
• Craig, C. L., Marshall, A. L., Sjöström, M., Bauman, A. E., Booth, M. L., Ainsworth, B. E., & Oja, P. (2003). International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity. Medicine & science in sports & exercise, 35(8), 1381-1395. [PubMed] [CrossRef]
• Dabrowska-Galas, M., Plinta, R., Dabrowska, J., & Skrzypulec-Plinta, V. (2013). Physical activity in students of the Medical University of Silesia in Poland. Physical therapy, 93(3), 384-392. [CrossRef]
• Fagaras, S. P., Radu, L. E., & Vanvu, G. (2015). The level of physical activity of university students. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 197, 1454-1457. [CrossRef]
• Fisher, J. J., Kaitelidou, D., & Samoutis, G. (2019). Happiness and physical activity levels of first year medical students studying in Cyprus: a cross-sectional survey. BMC medical education, 19(1), 475. [CrossRef]
• Gülgösteren, E. (2023). Examination of Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life in Adults with Chronic Diseases. International Journal of Active & Healthy Aging, 1(1), 7–13. [CrossRef]
• Golightly, Y. M., Allen, K. D., Ambrose, K. R., Stiller, J. L., Evenson, K. R., Voisin, C., & Callahan, L. F. (2017). Peer reviewed: physical activity as a vital sign: a systematic review. Preventing chronic disease, 14. [CrossRef]
• Gomez-Pinilla, F., & Hillman, C. (2013). The influence of exercise on cognitive abilities. Comprehensive Physiology, 3(1), 403. [CrossRef]
• Grujičić, M., Ilić, M., Novaković, B., Vrkatić, A., & Lozanov-Crvenković, Z. (2022). Prevalence and associated factors of physical activity among medical students from the Western Balkans. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(13), 7691.[CrossRef]
• Hadimani, C. P., Kulkarni, S. S., Math, A. K., & Javali, S. B. (2018). Patterns of physical activity and its correlation with gender, body mass index among medical students. Int J Community Med Public Health, 5(6), 2296-2300. [CrossRef]
• Hamer, M., Stamatakis, E., & Steptoe, A. (2009). Dose-response relationship between physical activity and mental health: the Scottish Health Survey. British journal of sports medicine, 43(14), 1111-1114. [CrossRef]
• IPAQ Research Committee. (2005). Guidelines for data processing and analysis of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)-short and long forms. http://www. ipaq. ki. se/scoring. pdf.
• Jiang, Y., Lu, C., Chen, J., Miao, Y., Li, Y., & Deng, Q. (2022). Happiness in university students: Personal, familial, and social factors: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(8), 4713. [CrossRef]
• Joseph, S., Linley, P. A., Harwood, J., Lewis, C. A., & McCollam, P. (2004). Rapid assessment of well‐being: The short depression‐happiness scale (SDHS). Psychology and psychotherapy: Theory, research and practice, 77(4), 463-478. [CrossRef]
• Kolobarić, N., Gradinjan Centner, M., Šušnjara, P., Matić, A., & Drenjančević, I. (2020). Anthropometric and biochemical parameters in relation to dietary habits as early indicator of cardiovascular impairment in young adult cohort. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24), 9208. [CrossRef]
• Kwan, M. Y., Cairney, J., Faulkner, G. E., & Pullenayegum, E. E. (2012). Physical activity and other health-risk behaviors during the transition into early adulthood: a longitudinal cohort study. American journal of preventive medicine, 42(1), 14-20. [CrossRef]
• Lavados-Romo, P., Andrade-Mayorga, O., Morales, G., Muñoz, S., & Balboa-Castillo, T. (2023). Association of screen time and physical activity with health-related quality of life in college students. Journal of American College Health, 71(5), 1504-1509. [CrossRef]
• Lohana, B., Agha, N., Ali, B., Kumari, R., Lalbux, F., & Talpur, M. T. H. (2023). Association of Physical Activity With Happiness Among Medical University Students. Journal of Peoples University of Medical & Health Sciences Nawabshah. (JPUMHS), 13(4), 112-116.
• Mahmoud, M. H., & Taha, A. S. (2017). The association between eating habits and body mass index among nursing students. J Nurs Health Sci, 6(3), 14-26. [CrossRef]
• Munir, R., & Nazuk, A. (2019). A Micro Level Study Explaining Happiness Level in Pakistan. NUST Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 5(1), 63-86.
• Murphy, J. J., Murphy, M. H., MacDonncha, C., Murphy, N., Nevill, A. M., & Woods, C. B. (2017). Validity and reliability of three self-report instruments for assessing attainment of physical activity guidelines in university students. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 21(3), 134-141. [CrossRef]
• Murphy, J. J., Woods, C. B., Murphy, M. H., Murphy, N., Byrne, N., & Mac Donncha, C. (2019). Student activity and sport Study Ireland: Protocol for a web-based survey and environmental audit tool for assessing the impact of multiple factors on university students’ physical activity. JMIR research protocols, 8(2), e10823. [CrossRef]
• Murphy, M. H., Carlin, A., Woods, C., Nevill, A., MacDonncha, C., Ferguson, K., & Murphy, N. (2018). Active students are healthier and happier than their inactive peers: the results of a large representative cross-sectional study of university students in Ireland. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 15(10), 737-746. [CrossRef]
• Nishanthi, A., Agilan, P., Vimal, M., & Shanthi, M. (2024). Patterns of Physical Activity and Its Association with Gender and Academic Year Among Undergraduate Medical Students. Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics, 15(1), 61-68. [CrossRef]
• Papathanasiou, G., Georgoudis, G. E. O. R. G. E., Papandreou, M., Spyropoulos, P., Georgakopoulos, D., Kalfakakou, V., & Evangelou, A. (2009). Reliability measures of the short International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) in Greek young adults. Hellenic J Cardiol, 50(4), 283-294.
• Piqueras, J. A., Kuhne, W., Vera-Villarroel, P., Van Straten, A., & Cuijpers, P. (2011). Happiness and health behaviours in Chilean college students: a cross-sectional survey. BMC public health, 11, 1-10. [CrossRef]
• Rabanales-Sotos, J., Evangelina Villanueva-Benites, M. E., Jacinto-Magallanes-Castilla, J., Leitón-Espinoza, Z. E., López-González, Á., & López-Torres-Hidalgo, J. (2020). Prevalence of overweight and obesity among health sciences students in the Amazonia Region of Peru. In Healthcare (Vol. 8, No. 4, p. 538). MDPI. [CrossRef]
• Richards, J., Jiang, X., Kelly, P., Chau, J., Bauman, A., & Ding, D. (2015). Don't worry, be happy: cross-sectional associations between physical activity and happiness in 15 European countries. BMC public health, 15(1), 1-8. [CrossRef]
• Sabatini, F. (2014). The relationship between happiness and health: evidence from Italy. Social Science & Medicine, 114, 178-187. [CrossRef]
• Silva, R. G., & Figueiredo-Braga, M. (2018). Evaluation of the relationships among happiness, stress, anxiety, and depression in pharmacy students. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 10(7), 903-910. [CrossRef]
• Štefan, L., Čule, M., Milinović, I., Juranko, D., & Sporiš, G. (2017). The relationship between lifestyle factors and body compositionin young adults. International journal of environmental research and public health, 14(8), 893. [CrossRef]
• Trockel, M. T., Barnes, M. D., & Egget, D. L. (2000). Health-related variables and academic performance among first-year college students: Implications for sleep and other behaviors. Journal of American college health, 49(3), 125-131. [CrossRef]
• Warburton, D. E., Nicol, C. W., & Bredin, S. S. (2006). Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence. Cmaj, 174(6), 801-809. [CrossRef]
• World Health Organization. (2000). Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic: report of a WHO consultation.
• World Health Organization. (2019). Global action plan on physical activity 2018-2030: more active people for a healthier world. World Health Organization.
• World Health Organization. (2022). Global status report on physical activity 2022: country profiles. World Health Organization.