Physical Exercise and Psychological Well-Being in Psychology Students, 2016

Abstract

The study evaluated the association between physical exercise and psychological well-being in Psychology students of the Universidad Adventista de Chile (Chile Adventist University). This was a quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study. A questionnaire about physical exercise was applied based on the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children and the Ryff Scale of Psychological Well-Being. The obtained results didn’t show statistically significant differences between the practice of physical exercise and psychological well-being (p = 0.149). Based on the well-being scale, no significant differences were found when comparing the subjects that practiced intense physical exercise three or more times a week during the last seven days and those who didn’t (p = 0.767). Regarding psychological well- being, no statistically significant differences were found between the subjects that practiced intense physical exercise with a frequency of three or more times a week, for 30 minutes or more, and those who didn’t (p = 0.500). The influence of other factors that maintain the level of psychological well-being in this population was presumed.