EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON STRESS AND PHYSICAL FITNESS IN NARESUAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, THAILAND
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14456/jsst.2021.17Keywords:
Physical Activity, Stress, Heart Rate Variability, Physical Fitness, University StudentsAbstract
This research was a cross-sectional design which aim to study and compare the effects of high and moderate physical activity on stress and physical fitness in Naresuan university students. Thirty-six participants Naresuan university students, academic year 2020, participated this study. The participants were selected by purposive sampling. They were equally divided into 2 groups, the high and moderate physical activity (HA) group (n = 18) and sedentary (SE) group (n = 18). The variables were collected before midterm and final examination by using a stress assessment (SPST-20 test), heart rate variability (HRV), and physical fitness testing. The data were analyzed using ANOVA with repeated measures followed by LSD’s multiple comparison, Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon paired signed-rank test with level of significance .05
The results showed that the level of stress, both of before midterm and final examination, between HA and SE group were no significant difference at the .05 level. However, a level of stress in HA group was normal, while SE group had a high level of stress in both of before midterm and final examination. Notably, HRV in HA group were significantly greater (P<0.05) than SE group in the period of before midterm and final examination. Furthermore, physical fitness was greater (P<0.05) in HA group compared with SE group. In conclusion, university students with high and moderate physical activity had normal stress level though period of before midterm and final examination. The autonomic nervous system activity in HA group was improved, in favor of an increase the operation of parasympathetic activity as well as the improvement of physical fitness. Therefore, physical activity should be encouraged in all college students for decrease of stress and increase physical fitness.
(Journal of Sports Science and Technology 2021; 21 (2):141-155)
(Received: 9 August 2021 , Revised: 7 December 2021, Accepted: 8 December 2021 2021)
Keywords: Physical Activity/ Stress/ Heart Rate Variability/ Physical Fitness/ University Students *Corresponding author: Tussana JARUCHART Department of Physical Education and Exercise Science, Faculty of Education, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, THAILAND
E-mail: tussanaj@nu.ac.th
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