| Regular physical activity contributes to decreasing health risk factors. With the intent of establishing long-term behavioral changes that attribute to overall physical wellbeing, many U.S. universities offer fitness and wellness courses. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a postsecondary fitness and wellness course on physical activity behaviors. Based on a socioecological model, a quantitative, cross-sectional, web-based survey study design using questions from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System was used. A convenience sampling strategy was used in the recruitment of the study population (N = 351) using the social network Facebook and an online university's virtual bulletin board. A logistic regression model was used to test the hypotheses that individuals who had completed a postsecondary fitness and wellness course would be more likely than those who had not completed such a course to engage in the recommended weekly levels of moderate, vigorous, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. According to study results, a significant (p ≤ 0.05) correlation between course completion and adequate weekly vigorous and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity existed (OR = 1.643, CI [1.017, 2.654], p = 0.042, OR = 1.738, CI [1.069, 2.828], p = 0.026). Marginal significance existed for moderate physical activity (OR = 1.546, CI [.965, 2.477], p = 0.070). This study leads to positive social change by providing university administrators, educators, and public health professional's information regarding the association between a postsecondary fitness and wellness course and an individual's physical activity behaviors, and could further the efforts to increase physical activity through education. |
