TY - JOUR
T1 - An ecological momentary assessment of the physical activity and sedentary behaviour patterns of university students
AU - Rouse, Peter C.
AU - Biddle, Stuart J H
PY - 2010/3/1
Y1 - 2010/3/1
N2 - Objective We used ecological momentary assessment to understand the physical activity and sedentary behaviour patterns of university students. Study design Cross sectional, opportunistic sample from a university in the English midlands. Methods Ecological momentary assessment diaries were completed every 15 minutes across two days. The sample comprised 46 males (mean age 20.2 years) and 38 females (mean age 19.5 years). The majority of participants were undergraduates (96.5 per cent) and white European (85 per cent). Results Although ?studyingg? was the predominant behaviour (280 minutes), students spent time conducting a range of behaviours including ?watching televisiong? (79.9 minutes), ?sitting and talkingg? (72.1 minutes) and ?hanging outg? (64.0 minutes). Repeated measure ANOVAs revealed a significant gender effect for some behaviours with ?studyingg? [F(1,82) = 10.50, p <.006] and ?computer game playingg? [ F(1,82) = 7.97, p <.006] being higher in males, and ?sitting and talkingg? [F(1,82) = 24.49, p <.006] higher in females. Pearson correlations suggested that sedentary behaviours compete with each other for studentsg? time. A significant small negative relationship existed between sedentary technology behaviours and physical activity for males (r = -.217) but not for females (r = -.182). Conclusions Students participate in a range of sedentary behaviours that differ by gender. Results question public perception that selected sedentary behaviours, such as ?watching televisiong?, are responsible for declining levels of sport and exercise participation in this age group. Implications for interventions are considered.
AB - Objective We used ecological momentary assessment to understand the physical activity and sedentary behaviour patterns of university students. Study design Cross sectional, opportunistic sample from a university in the English midlands. Methods Ecological momentary assessment diaries were completed every 15 minutes across two days. The sample comprised 46 males (mean age 20.2 years) and 38 females (mean age 19.5 years). The majority of participants were undergraduates (96.5 per cent) and white European (85 per cent). Results Although ?studyingg? was the predominant behaviour (280 minutes), students spent time conducting a range of behaviours including ?watching televisiong? (79.9 minutes), ?sitting and talkingg? (72.1 minutes) and ?hanging outg? (64.0 minutes). Repeated measure ANOVAs revealed a significant gender effect for some behaviours with ?studyingg? [F(1,82) = 10.50, p <.006] and ?computer game playingg? [ F(1,82) = 7.97, p <.006] being higher in males, and ?sitting and talkingg? [F(1,82) = 24.49, p <.006] higher in females. Pearson correlations suggested that sedentary behaviours compete with each other for studentsg? time. A significant small negative relationship existed between sedentary technology behaviours and physical activity for males (r = -.217) but not for females (r = -.182). Conclusions Students participate in a range of sedentary behaviours that differ by gender. Results question public perception that selected sedentary behaviours, such as ?watching televisiong?, are responsible for declining levels of sport and exercise participation in this age group. Implications for interventions are considered.
KW - Ecological momentary assessment
KW - Physical activity
KW - Sedentary behaviour
KW - Students
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77950348140&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0017896910363145
U2 - 10.1177/0017896910363145
DO - 10.1177/0017896910363145
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77950348140
SN - 0017-8969
VL - 69
SP - 116
EP - 125
JO - Health Education Journal
JF - Health Education Journal
IS - 1
ER -