| College students are increasingly less physically active. Investigation into this problem is important because individuals develop lifelong habits during the college time period. College students' perceptions regarding physical activity and overall wellness are important factors in creating positive change toward healthier lifestyle habits. Based on the behavioral ecological framework, this study investigated students' perceptions of their level of physical activity and overall wellness. A quantitative investigation was conducted using a cross-sectional survey to identify the mean scores of perceptions of physical activity and if they were related to the mean scores of overall wellness. Additionally, sub questions examined the effect of gender on students' perceptions using a 2x2 factorial design. The Perceived Wellness Survey, a 36-item Likert, self-rating scale, was completed by 91 students through an online survey. Descriptive statistics were used to compare students' perceptions of physical activity and of overall wellness. The results indicated that although students did not perceive themselves to be unwell, they did acknowledge that they were physically inactive. An ANOVA did not find a significant relationship between perceptions and overall wellness, indicating the effect of low perception was not significant to overall wellness perception. Gender had no effect on perceptions of wellness or physical activity. The resulting project was a curriculum plan of wellness coursework taught by university instructors to address college students' perceptions and physical inactivity. The positive social change implications include effective implementations of healthier lifestyle habits, as college students may lead healthier lives brought about through education and regular physical activity. |
