Social media use and physical activity participation among college students

This study investigates the relationship between social media use, self-reported physical activity (PA), and social cognitive theory (SCT) variables among college students in the United States during the 2023 Spring semester. A total of 151 college students responded to an online survey using Prolific as a recruiting tool. Results showed a positive association between friend support and moderate PA, self-efficacy and vigorous PA, and self-regulation and vigorous PA. Participants who received PA-related information through social media had higher levels of PA engagement. Specifically, posts focusing on PA benefits may be more effective in promoting PA engagement than other types of PA-related information. Among the sample, YouTube was the most popular social media platform, followed by Instagram and Reddit. Although existing research has primarily focused on Facebook as the primary social media platform for interventions among college students, only 47.7% reported using Facebook daily. The findings suggest that social media platforms can effectively promote PA engagement among college students. Content emphasizing the benefits of PA is more effective than other types of PA-related information. Organizations interested in promoting PA among college students can leverage social media platforms to build friend support and increase self-efficacy for PA engagement. The findings from this study could inform the development of future interventions to promote PA among college students by considering the impact of social media use and SCT variables.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Recreation, Sport, and Tourism

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Hu, Hongzhi

Contributors dc:contributor

• Sato, Mikihiro
• Fredericks, Jacob

• Physical Activity
• Social Media
• Social Cognitive Theory
• College Students

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2023 Hongzhi Hu

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/120390

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F120390