Structural Association between the Social Ecological Variables and Physical Activity in College Students

OBJECTIVES This study examined the relationships between physical activity and social ecological factors among university students and the mediating effects of psychological factors on the relationship between physical activity and social and physical environmental factors.METHODS Participants were 200 undergraduate students (male = 112, female = 88; M_age = 24.41 ± 3.73). Self-efficacy, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, family support, friend support, availability and quality of exercise facilities, and physical activity were measured using standardized Korean scales.RESULTS Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that the final model fit the data well (CFI = 0.968, TLI = 0.948, SRMR = 0.036, RMSEA = 0.046, 90% CI [0.025,0.065], <i>p</i> = 0.609). Specifically, psychological, social, and physical environmental factors showed significant direct associations with physical activity. In addition, significant indirect associations were observed through self-efficacy, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers.CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that university students’ physical activity is associated with psychological, social, and physical environmental factors, supporting the usefulness of a multilevel socialecological approach to physical activity promotion.