Physical activity, sedentary behavior and quality of life in university students: A narrative review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55040/85d6b961Keywords:
physical fitness, quality of life, sedentary behavior, college students, health promotionAbstract
Physical Activity (PA) is recognized for its benefits on physical and mental health. In contrast, sedentary behavior is a risk factor for non-communicable chronic diseases and represents a public health problem with direct effects on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). The growing body of research in this field among university students is dispersed and methodologically heterogeneous, highlighting the need for an updated synthesis. This analytical-documentary narrative review examined the relationship between PA and HRQoL in university students based on scientific publications from 2012 to 2022 in Scopus, SportDiscus, Web of Science, and PubMed. The bibliographic search was based on the PICO strategy. Quantitative studies (including descriptive and cross-sectional designs) were included. A total of 459 articles were identified, of which 8 met the inclusion and quality criteria for in-depth analysis. Findings show that students generally do not meet recommended levels of PA. A large portion of their time is spent in sedentary behaviors, which are associated with lower physical, psychological, and social well-being. PA was linked to improvements in mental and physical health, as well as life satisfaction. Conversely, sedentary behavior was associated with higher risk of depression and anxiety. Differences were noted according to sex, PA intensity, and sociocultural factors. The findings suggest the need to implement PA promotion strategies in university contexts, considering social factors to improve HRQoL.
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