Physical education and nonphysical education majors: A comparison of exercise behaviors

The purpose of this study was to assess and compare self-reported leisure time participation behavior of physical education majors and nonphysical education majors in physical activity. A survey instrument was constructed for administration to undergraduate physical education and nonphysical education majors enrolled in a university-required physical education basic activity program. The physical education majors sample was composed of 225 subjects. The nonphysical education majors sample was composed of 549 subjects.;With regards to reasons for engaging in leisure time physical activity, physical education majors were found to be significantly different from nonphysical education majors on 9 of 11 components. Findings indicated undergraduate university physical education majors attach greater value and demonstrate a stronger commitment to exercise than undergraduate nonphysical education majors. Regarding reasons for failing to exercise during leisure time, physical education and nonphysical education majors were found to be different on 6 of 11 factors. The findings suggest physical education majors more often than nonphysical education majors demonstrated a tendency to exercise in spite of adverse conditions (e.g., weather, illness, injury, other responsibilities, etc.). Although evidence of some casual differences occurring between the two groups was identified in terms of participation frequencies in specific activities, mean length of time devoted to each individual exercise session, mean number of days per week subjects engaged in exercise, and level of intensity involved in exercise sessions, the evidence was not sufficient to conclude that a significant difference existed between the groups on these factors.;As determined by mean weekly aerobic point accumulations, physical education majors and nonphysical education majors are not significantly different in their leisure time physical activity behavior. A second finding of the study revealed the one factor which is significantly correlated with leisure time physical activity participation behavior is gender. Based on the findings, male undergraduate university students enrolled in a required physical education basic activity program have a greater frequency of participation in leisure time physical activity than female undergraduate university students who are enrolled in the same program.