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Influence of Physical Activity Education on Physical Activity Practices among University Students in Nigeria

Abstract

Physical inactivity is an important public health concern among young adults and is associated with an increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and other non-communicable diseases. University students may be particularly vulnerable to inadequate physical activity because of academic demands, prolonged sitting, increased screen time, limited recreational opportunities, busy schedules, and changes in lifestyle following transition to university life. Physical activity education provides students with information about the health benefits of regular physical activity, recommended activity levels, different forms of exercise, safe participation in physical activities, strategies for overcoming barriers to exercise, and the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle. Physical activity practices refer to the frequency, duration, intensity, and types of physical activities undertaken by individuals during leisure time, transportation, academic activities, household activities, and other daily routines. Effective physical activity education may improve students' knowledge, motivation, self-efficacy, and adoption of regular physical activity practices. Against this background, this study investigates the influence of physical activity education on physical activity practices among university students in Nigeria. The study is anchored on the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, and Theory of Planned Behavior. The Health Belief Model explains preventive health behaviour through perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and cues to action, providing a basis for understanding students' decisions to engage in regular physical activity. Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes the interaction between knowledge, self-efficacy, social influences, behavioural capabilities, and environmental conditions in shaping physical activity behaviour. The Theory of Planned Behavior explains how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control influence students' intentions and subsequent physical activity practices. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how physical activity education may influence physical activity practices among university students in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative quasi-experimental research design. Primary data will be collected from undergraduate students in selected universities in Nigeria using a structured self-administered questionnaire and, where feasible, a validated physical activity assessment instrument. A multistage sampling technique will be employed to select states, universities, faculties or departments, academic levels, and eligible students. Where feasible, selected student groups will be assigned to intervention and comparison groups. Students in the intervention group will receive structured physical activity education covering the health benefits of physical activity, recommended levels of activity, aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities, safe exercise practices, sedentary behaviour, strategies for incorporating physical activity into daily routines, and ways of overcoming common barriers to exercise. Physical activity practices will be assessed using indicators such as frequency, duration, and intensity of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, participation in recreational exercise, active transportation, sedentary behaviour, and adherence to recommended physical activity levels. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize students' sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity knowledge, exposure to education, and physical activity practices. Inferential statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, paired-sample tests, independent-sample tests, and multiple regression analysis, will be used to determine the influence of physical activity education on physical activity practices. Appropriate diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability of the research instrument, model assumptions, goodness of fit, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that physical activity education has a significant positive influence on physical activity practices among university students in Nigeria. Students exposed to structured physical activity education are expected to demonstrate improved knowledge of the health benefits of exercise and greater participation in regular physical activity. Education may encourage students to engage in moderate-to-vigorous physical activities, participate in recreational exercise, use active transportation where feasible, reduce prolonged sedentary behaviour, and incorporate physical activity into their daily routines. However, education alone may not guarantee sustained physical activity because students may continue to face barriers such as academic workload, lack of time, limited sports and recreational facilities, safety concerns, financial constraints, fatigue, prolonged screen use, and inadequate opportunities for structured exercise. Consequently, physical activity education is expected to be most effective when supported by accessible recreational facilities, active-campus policies, organized sports and exercise programmes, safe walking environments, and supportive university health-promotion initiatives. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on physical activity, health education, non-communicable disease prevention, student health, health promotion, and public health in Nigeria by providing empirical evidence on the influence of physical activity education on physical activity practices among university students. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission, university administrations, student health services, sports departments, public health professionals, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for promoting active lifestyles among young adults. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for strengthening university-based physical activity education, improving access to sports and recreational facilities, developing active-campus programmes, encouraging active transportation, reducing sedentary behaviour, and promoting sustainable physical activity practices among university students across Nigeria.

Keywords: Physical activity education, physical activity practices, university students, physical inactivity, exercise, active lifestyle, health promotion, non-communicable disease prevention, student health, health education, public health, Nigeria.