Abstract
Background: Mental disorders represent a major public health concern, affecting a significant proportion of the global population and contributing to substantial healthcare costs and disability. Physical activity has been recognized as a critical factor in promoting mental and physical well-being. University students are particularly vulnerable to stress and mental health challenges, and their physical activity patterns can influence both mental health outcomes and overall life satisfaction.
Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between regular physical activity, sedentary behavior, and indicators of mental health, quality of life, and life satisfaction among university students.
Methods: A descriptive study was conducted with 352 students from various private universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) assessed physical activity across multiple domains, including leisure, transport, domestic, and work-related activities, along with sedentary behavior. Quality of life was measured using the Comprehensive Quality of Life Scale Adult (ComQol-A5), which assesses seven domains: material well-being, health, productivity, intimacy, safety, place in community and emotional well-being. Demographic data included age, gender and type of education. Data were analyzed using SPSS, with descriptive statistics, correlation analyses and regression models to explore associations between physical activity and mental health outcomes.
Results: Most participants reported moderate to high levels of physical activity, with average weekly energy expenditure of 1,750 ± 520 MET-min/week. Life satisfaction and overall quality of life scores were significantly higher among participants engaging in higher levels of recreational and transport-related physical activity (p < 0.05). Sedentary behavior during weekends was negatively correlated with mental health indicators (r = -0.43, p = 0.03). Regression analysis revealed that recreational physical activity predicted 28% of the variance in life satisfaction, controlling gender and type of education (β = 0.53, p = 0.01).
Conclusion: Regular engagement in physical activity, particularly recreational and transport-related activities, is positively associated with improved mental health, quality of life, and life satisfaction in university students. Strategies to reduce sedentary behavior and promote active lifestyles in university settings are warranted to enhance student development.