Stress and Physical Activity Levels of Undergraduates: A Case Study of University of Nigeria, Nsukka`

Abstract

The study examined stress levels and physical activity levels of undergraduate students of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). Specifically, it compared stress level and physical activity (PA) levels across gender, academic levels, fathers and mothers’ education level. Descriptive survey research design was adopted. Population was made up of undergraduate students of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Perceived stress scale and physical activity questionnaire short form were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics were reported using frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation while hypotheses were tested using chi-square test. The result revealed that above one tenth (10.5%), more than two thirds (78.8%) and above one tenth (10.7%) of the participants had low, moderate and high stress. Moreover, less than one third (26%), above two thirds (66.5%) and less than one tenth (7.5%) of the participants had low, moderate, and high physical activity levels. Chi-square test on the stress levels of the undergraduates was significant on gender, X2 (2, 439) = 10.804, p = .00 but not significant on academic level X2 (2, 439) =.478, p = .79. With respect to PA levels, chi-square was significant on gender X2 (2, 439) =17.342, p = .00, but not significant on academic level X2 (2, 439) .085, p = .96.