{"id":{"repo_id":"malta","oai_identifier":"oai:www.um.edu.mt:123456789/4945"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/malta/oai:www.um.edu.mt:123456789/4945","repository":{"repo_id":"malta","name":"University of Malta","base_url":"https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"The effect of physical activity on anxiety : the experience of Maltese university students","abstract":"Physical activity has been found to be extremely good for improving physical and mental health, fitness and overall well-being. Physical activity is known to help reduce anxiety; however the effect of exercise on anxiety can be rather unifying, due to the several models of physiology, psychological and psychosocial advantages of exercise. Little research has been done to look into the effective benefits of physical activity in a cohort of individuals namely university students who are prone to develop anxiety due to concerns or worries related to their studies. In view of this, the research study explored the effects of physical activity on anxiety by looking at the experience of Maltese university students. These experiences were obtained through a phenomenological inquiry by interviewing 11 students reading a full-time course at the University of Malta and who participate in physical activity. Insights to students’ experiences led to the development of 14 categories, while three main themes were identified. Students who participated in the study were found to carry out different types of physical activity on a regular basis to cope better with their anxiety. Further to this, physical activity was perceived to be mostly a distraction or time-out, while it was also indicated that it could be a means of social interaction or possibly involves physiological change. Once exercise is carried out students feel better, more confident and relaxed, and motivated to continue with their studies. Regular, aerobic exercise has been recommended to have a greater effect on reducing levels of anxiety.","abstract_html":"Physical activity has been found to be extremely good for improving physical and mental health, fitness and overall well-being. Physical activity is known to help reduce anxiety; however the effect of exercise on anxiety can be rather unifying, due to the several models of physiology, psychological and psychosocial advantages of exercise. Little research has been done to look into the effective benefits of physical activity in a cohort of individuals namely university students who are prone to develop anxiety due to concerns or worries related to their studies. In view of this, the research study explored the effects of physical activity on anxiety by looking at the experience of Maltese university students. These experiences were obtained through a phenomenological inquiry by interviewing 11 students reading a full-time course at the University of Malta and who participate in physical activity. Insights to students’ experiences led to the development of 14 categories, while three main themes were identified. Students who participated in the study were found to carry out different types of physical activity on a regular basis to cope better with their anxiety. Further to this, physical activity was perceived to be mostly a distraction or time-out, while it was also indicated that it could be a means of social interaction or possibly involves physiological change. Once exercise is carried out students feel better, more confident and relaxed, and motivated to continue with their studies. Regular, aerobic exercise has been recommended to have a greater effect on reducing levels of anxiety.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":[],"institution":"University of Malta","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2014,"date_issued":"2014","date_published":"2014","updated_at":"2026-07-27T20:12:28Z","subjects":["Exercise -- Psychological aspects","Anxiety","Mental health","Education, Higher -- Malta"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/4945","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2015-09-02T08:23:15Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2015-09-02T08:23:15Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2014"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.department","label":"Dc Publisher Department","values":["Faculty for Social Wellbeing. Department of Youth and Community Studies"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["University of Malta"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["masterThesis"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Exercise -- Psychological aspects","Anxiety","Mental health","Education, Higher -- Malta"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/4945"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["M.YOUTH&COMM.STUD."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Physical activity has been found to be extremely good for improving physical and mental health, fitness and overall well-being. Physical activity is known to help reduce anxiety; however the effect of exercise on anxiety can be rather unifying, due to the several models of physiology, psychological and psychosocial advantages of exercise. Little research has been done to look into the effective benefits of physical activity in a cohort of individuals namely university students who are prone to develop anxiety due to concerns or worries related to their studies. In view of this, the research study explored the effects of physical activity on anxiety by looking at the experience of Maltese university students. These experiences were obtained through a phenomenological inquiry by interviewing 11 students reading a full-time course at the University of Malta and who participate in physical activity. Insights to students’ experiences led to the development of 14 categories, while three main themes were identified. Students who participated in the study were found to carry out different types of physical activity on a regular basis to cope better with their anxiety. Further to this, physical activity was perceived to be mostly a distraction or time-out, while it was also indicated that it could be a means of social interaction or possibly involves physiological change. Once exercise is carried out students feel better, more confident and relaxed, and motivated to continue with their studies. Regular, aerobic exercise has been recommended to have a greater effect on reducing levels of anxiety."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The effect of physical activity on anxiety : the experience of Maltese university students"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:date.accessioned":["2015-09-02T08:23:15Z"],"dc:date.available":["2015-09-02T08:23:15Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2014"],"dc:description":["M.YOUTH&COMM.STUD."],"dc:description.abstract":["Physical activity has been found to be extremely good for improving physical and mental health, fitness and overall well-being. Physical activity is known to help reduce anxiety; however the effect of exercise on anxiety can be rather unifying, due to the several models of physiology, psychological and psychosocial advantages of exercise. Little research has been done to look into the effective benefits of physical activity in a cohort of individuals namely university students who are prone to develop anxiety due to concerns or worries related to their studies. In view of this, the research study explored the effects of physical activity on anxiety by looking at the experience of Maltese university students. These experiences were obtained through a phenomenological inquiry by interviewing 11 students reading a full-time course at the University of Malta and who participate in physical activity. Insights to students’ experiences led to the development of 14 categories, while three main themes were identified. Students who participated in the study were found to carry out different types of physical activity on a regular basis to cope better with their anxiety. Further to this, physical activity was perceived to be mostly a distraction or time-out, while it was also indicated that it could be a means of social interaction or possibly involves physiological change. Once exercise is carried out students feel better, more confident and relaxed, and motivated to continue with their studies. Regular, aerobic exercise has been recommended to have a greater effect on reducing levels of anxiety."],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/4945"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:publisher.department":["Faculty for Social Wellbeing. Department of Youth and Community Studies"],"dc:publisher.institution":["University of Malta"],"dc:rights":["info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess"],"dc:subject":["Exercise -- Psychological aspects","Anxiety","Mental health","Education, Higher -- Malta"],"dc:title":["The effect of physical activity on anxiety : the experience of Maltese university students"],"dc:type":["masterThesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T20:12:28Z"}