Sport practice and perceptions in university students: a mixed-methods study

Authors : Ilaria MONTAGNİ, Marine VİALEMARİNGE, Christophe TZOURİO

Pages : 1-15

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Publication Date : 2020-06-21

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Based on the mixed-methods approach using Grounded Theory, the present study described French University students’ sport practice and explored their perceptions of sport and physical activity. A representative sample of 508 students completed a self-administered questionnaire and 27 of them were further individually interviewed. We analyzed frequency of sport, personal definition of sport versus physical activity or inactivity and health behaviors. We combined descriptive statistics of quantitative data from a tablet-based questionnaire with analysis of qualitative data from semi-structured interviews. Findings showed that 54.3% of students did not practice any sport, but 60.6% engaged in physical activities like walking or cycling. Students showed difficulties in distinguishing sport practice from physical activity. In conclusion, findings suggest considering perceptions and needs of sport and physical activity in young people when designing health promoting interventions. Such interventions should consider barriers and leverages to sport practice, such as the lack of time as well as students’ need for more sport activities and less workload.
Keywords : sport, students, physical activity, representations, mixed methods