Physical activity level, depression, and anxiety of undergraduate students in Physical Education

Abstract

The main objective was to verify the levels of physical activity, depressive symptoms and anxiety of Physical Education students, as well as to verify the relationship between the levels of physical activity and depression and anxiety among university students in this course. The data were collected in a private educational institution. We collected data to assess the level of physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) in its short version, depression symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory) and anxiety (Beck Inventory Anxiety). Sociodemographic data were also collected. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed. 150 students participated in the research, 52 women and 98 men aged 18 to 45 years (mean = 22.85; standard deviation = 4.80). The results revealed that 18% of students have low, 20% moderate and 60% high level of physical activity. Among college students, 76% were categorized with minimal depressive symptoms and 65% had moderate levels of anxiety. No statistical differences were identified between levels of physical activity with depression (p = 0.163) and anxiety (p = 0.545). It was concluded that there was no relationship between anxious or depressed Physical Education students with their levels of physical activity.