Graduate Program

Kinesiology and Sports Studies

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2008

Thesis Director

Jeffrey Willardson

Thesis Committee Member

Brian Pritschet

Thesis Committee Member

Jill Owen

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess general health and physical fitness knowledge and the exercise behaviors of college students at Eastern Illinois University. Specifically, objective a) was health and fitness knowledge related to the minutes of aerobic exercise in a structured physical activity, objective b) was taking the Fitness for Life class related to the minutes of aerobic exercise, and objective c) was do students who have taken the Fitness for Life class demonstrate greater general physical fitness knowledge compared with students who have not taken the Fitness for Life class? Participants included males (n=123) and females (n=141), for a total of 264 participants. There waKawide age range (i.e. 18 to 54 years). The majority of the participants (92.05%) were 18 to 23 years of age (n=243) and included Freshmen (n=38), Sophomores (n=46), Juniors (n=78), and Seniors (n=102). Subjects were divided into two groups: those who had taken the Fitness for Life Class at Eastern Illinois University (n=133) and those who had not (n=131). This study was completed using a survey comprised of four parts a) demographics, b) current and history of exercise, c) exercise knowledge, and d) general health knowledge.

Total average scores from the general and exercise knowledge section were below average for EIU students ( 58.14% ). The number of minutes per week of aerobic exercise exceeded 30 minutes most days of the week with an average of 160 minutes per week.

To test the first objective, the number of minutes per week and the total number of correct responses for the Exercise Knowledge and General Health Knowledge questions were calculated. Using the Pearson Correlation (two tailed), the results indicated no significant relationship between the number of aerobic exercise minutes per week and knowledge of exercise and health (r = .041; p > .05). To test the second objective, those who had taken the Fitness for Life class and those who had not taken the Fitness for Life class were compared regarding the total number of aerobic exercise minutes per week. Using an independent t-test, the results indicated that there were no significant differences in aerobic exercise minutes per week for those who had taken the class versus those who had not (p = .075). To test the third objective, the total number of correct responses for the Exercise Knowledge and General Health Knowledge questions was compared-between those who had taken the class versus those who had not. Using an independent t-test, the results indicated that there was a significant difference between groups (p = .0001). Therefore, students who had taken the Fitness for Life class demonstrated greater basic health and fitness knowledge versus students who had not taken the Fitness for Life class. The results of this study suggest that knowledge of health and fitness may not be a valid indicator of participation in aerobic exercise. This may suggest that the Fitness for Life class could be restructured to promote not only health and fitness knowledge, but empower students to apply the principles learned in class.

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