The actual and perceived levels of physical fitness and lifestyle habits in University of Malta students

Abstract

Background: Every country aims to have a healthy working population, with a health-care system targeting the prevention rather than the curing aspect of disease. In Malta, 90% of the total deaths are attributed to Non-Communicable Diseases which are mainly caused by modifiable risk factors. Given that university students are predisposed to financial, academic, and social challenges, possibly leading to physical inactivity, poor lifestyle habits and sleeplessness, the scope of this research was to study the actual and perceived physical fitness levels, the prevalence of lifestyle habits (nicotine dependence, alcohol consumption and sleep quality), and identify any correlations between these components in students attending the University of Malta. Methodology: 306 UM students from various areas of studies were recruited. All participants had a number of outcome measures assessed which included; Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference (WC) (Body composition), Resting Heart Rate (RHR), Blood Pressure (BP) and 3-Minute Step Test (3MST) (Physical endurance), Push-ups and Squats until fatigue (Muscular strength and endurance), Back-scratch Test and Modified Sit and Reach Test (MSRT) (Flexibility), and non-physical testing; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Alcohol-Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), Self-Perceived Fitness Questionnaire (SPF-Q). A high score in these non-physical tests corresponds to poor sleep quality, alcohol and nicotine dependency, and positive perception of physical fitness, respectively. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential analysis. The spearman correlation test was computed to investigate correlations between outcome measures. Results: UM students had matched actual and perceived body composition (SPF-Q) scores (BMI- Males- rs = -0.509, Females- rs = -0.340, P < 0.001, and WC- Males- rs = - 0.615, Females- rs = -0.608, P < 0.001). Unlike female participants, male participants had matched actual and perceived physical endurance scores (RHR- rs = -0.292, P = 0.001, diastolic BP- rs = -0.224, P = 0.015 and 3MST- rs = -0.327, P < 0.001) when assessed with their SPF-Q scores. Female participants obtained a statistically significant correlation between actual and perceived UL strength and endurance (rs = 0.165, P = 0.023) while male participants obtained a statistically significant correlation between actual and perceived LLs muscular strength and endurance (rs = 0.207, P = 0.025). No statistically significant correlations were noted between actual and perceived flexibility. When analysing the relationship between lifestyle habits, FTND and AUDIT scores positively correlated (Males- rs = 0.524, Females rs = 0.464, P < 0.001) while FTND and PSQI resulted in a negative, weak, and statistically significant correlation for female participants only (rs = -0.224, P = 0.002). The correlation between PSQI and AUDIT was negative, negligible, and not statistically significant (Males- rs = -0.152, P = 0.102, Females- rs = -0.122, P = 0.094). When analysing the relationship between actual physical fitness and lifestyle habits, FTND resulted in a positive correlation with the 3MST (Males- rs = 0.418, Females rs = 0.394, P < 0.001), Systolic BP (rs = 0.214, P = 0.021), Diastolic BP (rs = 0.240, P = 0.009), and BMI (rs = 0.255, P = 0.006) in male UM students and WC (rs = 0.158, P = 0.030) in female UM students. Negative correlations between FTND and MSRT (Males- rs = -0.279, P = 0.002, Females- rs = -0.277, P < 0.001), Squat test until fatigue (Males- rs = -0.361, Females- rs= -0.290, P < 0.001) and Push-ups until fatigue (Males- rs = -0.246, P = 0.008) were noted. AUDIT positively correlated with BMI (Males- rs = 0.229, P = 0.013) and 3MST (Males- rs = 0.400, Females- rs = 0.324, P < 0.001) while negatively correlated with MSRT (Males- rs= -0.298, P = 0.001, Females- rs = -0.295, P < 0.001) and squat repetitions (Males- rs = -0.445, Females- rs = -0.272, P < 0.001). PSQI negatively correlated with the Back-Scratch test (Males- rs = -0.199, P = 0.031) and MSRT (Males- rs = -0.281, P = 0.002, Females: rs = -0.202, P = 0.005). Male participants also had positive, statistically significant correlations between PSQI and Push-ups until fatigue (rs = 0.300, P < 0.001), and Squats until fatigue (rs = 0.182, P = 0.049) while female participants obtained positive, statistically significant correlations between PSQI and 3MST (rs = 0.289, P < 0.001). When analysing the relationship between perceived physical fitness and lifestyle habits, statistically significant correlations were only noted between perceived flexibility and FTND (rs= -0.275, P = 0.003) / AUDIT (rs= -0.264, P = 0.004) in male participants. Conclusion: This study showed that University of Malta students were aware of their physical fitness, had high prevalence rates but low dependence of smoking and alcohol consumption, and poor sleep quality. With a possibility of these lifestyle habits negatively affecting the physical fitness levels of University of Malta students, health promotion strategies targeting wellness are crucial.