Author(s): MOTEVALLI, M., DRENOWATZ, C., TANOUS, D.R., WIRNITZER, K.C., Institution: UNIVERSITY OF INNSBRUCK, Country: AUSTRIA, Abstract-ID: 2201

Determinants of Engagement in Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Club Sport Among College and University Students

INTRODUCTION
Various internal and external indicators, including lifestyle-related, sociodemographic, and environmental factors, have been documented as being linked to physical activity (PA) habits [1-3]. However, there is a lack of data comparing different forms of engagement in PA, sports, and exercise. The present study aimed to investigate potential factors associated with the engagement in leisure-time PA (LPA) and club sports (CS) in a large sample of college/university students.

METHODS
This nation-wide study followed a cross-sectional design and included a final sample of 4,508 students (mean age: 24.9 y; 65.9% females; 66.1% undergraduate students; 18.5% internationals) from 52 colleges and universities across Austria. Participants completed an online survey and provided data on demographics, anthropometric characteristics, and an extensive range of health-related lifestyle factors, including patterns of PA and underlying motivations for PA engagement, as well as details on dietary habits, sleep routines, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS
Across the entire sample, 85.7% of participants reported participating regularly in LPA, and among them, 22.5% were active members of sports clubs. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 17.8%, while 7.4% students were classified as underweight. Among the 36 potential motives listed in the survey, “Maintaining physical health,” “feeling good,” and “refreshing the mind” were the most commonly mentioned factors motivating students to engage in LPA and CS. Significant predictors of CS participation included sociodemographic, dietary, and sleep-related clusters, along with individual variables: “residing in rural areas,” “being Austrian,” “daily consumption of fruits,” “daily consumption of >2 liters of fluids,” “avoiding smoking,” “avoiding alcohol,” and “prioritizing sleep as the top health factor” (p<0.01). The category of “sleep-related factors” as a cluster and the individual variable “feeling well-rested after sleep” were identified as predictors of LPA participation (p<0.001).

DISCUSSION
Although motivational factors for students’ involvement in LPA or CS may be similar, participation in each of these two forms is influenced by different internal and external factors. The findings emphasize the importance of considering the type of engagement in PA and sports, and the associated determinants, when designing tailored strategies to foster an active lifestyle, especially among university students and young adults.

REFERENCES
1. Condello G, et al. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-017-0510-2
2. Cortis C, et al. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0182709
3. Downward P, et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.