2019, Volume 1, Issue 2

Sporting habits of university students in Hungary



Ildikó Balatoni1, Henrietta Varga Szépné1, Anetta Müller2, Sándor Kovács3, Nikolett Kosztin1, László Csernoch4

1Clinical Center, Univeristy of Debrecen
2Department of Sports Economics and Management, Univeristy of Debrecen
3Department of Research Methodology and Statistics, Faculty of Economics, Univeristy of Debrecen
4Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen


Author for correspondence: Ildikó Balatoni; Clinical Center, Univeristy of Debrecen; email: balatoni@med.unideb.hu

DOI: 10.29359/BJHPA.2019.Suppl.2.05

Full text

Abstract

Background:  ‪As physical activity, health, and the quality of life are strongly related. Leisure habits of students of the University of Debrecen, Hungary, were assessed in a recent survey. The survey used both online and offline (written) questionnaires. In the survey sport was defined as a physical activity outside of compulsory Physical Education (PE) classes that lasts for at least half an hour. In the questionnaire the background characteristics were profession, age, body weight, height, gender, and whether the student has compulsory PE classes.

Material and methods:  ‪Altogether 857 students from all faculties of the University completed the survey. 60.4% of the respondents were females and 39.6% males; their average age was 21.5±2.7 (mean ± SD) years. Thirty-seven percent of them participate in PE classes.

Results:  ‪Respondents reported 4.6±1.9 and 6.5±2.2 hours of free-time during the weekdays and weekends on average, respectively. During weekdays, students spend 1.7±1.2 hours watching TV and 4.6±2.0 hours on the internet, while 3.9±1.9 hours are dedicated for studying. On weekends, these activities take up approximately a half an hour more. Only 67.9% of the respondents participate regularly in sports activities. 

Conclusions:  ‪ It is regrettable that 37% of the interviewed students do not engage in physical activity outside the compulsory PE classes at all, while they spend more than 6 hours watching TV or surfing the Internet. Feeling responsible for the quality of life of future generations we must encourage activities that change unhealthy life-styles while promoting sports activities


Key words: university students, free-time, physical activity, motivation


Cite this article as:

AMA:

Balatoni I, Varga Szépné H, Müller A et al. Sporting habits of university students in Hungary. Balt J Health Phys Activ. 2019;1(2):27-37. doi:10.29359/BJHPA.2019.Suppl.2.05

APA:

Balatoni, I., Varga Szépné, H., Müller, A., Kovács, S., Kosztin, N.., & Csernoch, L. (2019). Sporting habits of university students in Hungary. Balt J Health Phys Activ, 1(2), 27-37. https://doi.org/10.29359/BJHPA.2019.Suppl.2.05

Chicago:

Balatoni, Ildikó, Varga Szépné Henrietta, Müller Anetta, Kovács Sándor, Kosztin Nikolett , Csernoch László. 2019. "Sporting habits of university students in Hungary". Balt J Health Phys Activ 1 (2): 27-37. doi:10.29359/BJHPA.2019.Suppl.2.05

Harvard:

Balatoni, I., Varga Szépné, H., Müller, A., Kovács, S., Kosztin, N.., and Csernoch, L. (2019). Sporting habits of university students in Hungary. Balt J Health Phys Activ, 1(2), pp.27-37. https://doi.org/10.29359/BJHPA.2019.Suppl.2.05

MLA:

Balatoni, Ildikó et al. "Sporting habits of university students in Hungary." Balt J Health Phys Activ, vol. 1, no. 2, 2019, pp. 27-37. doi:10.29359/BJHPA.2019.Suppl.2.05

Vancouver:

Balatoni I, Varga Szépné H, Müller A et al. Sporting habits of university students in Hungary. Balt J Health Phys Activ 2019; 1(2): 27-37. Available from: doi:10.29359/BJHPA.2019.Suppl.2.05