Does the frequency of exercise affect the stress level of college students?.

Abstract

Background: Physical activity especially among college students is known to greatly impact their
mental and physical health. The current study focuses on investigating the effects of frequent
exercise on stress level of college students. The study involved several participants who were
learners from college in different learning institutions (Choi, 2020). The results of the study
revealed common differences among cognitive and emotional symptoms of stress across various
college students. The study garnered that there is significant relationship between the volume of
physical activity and level of stress (Choi, 2020).This report is a discussion consisting of exercise
related terms in relevance to the topic of its effects on college students. In this regard, the
discussion identifies the effects of frequent stress with the aim of determining its impacts on
college students. The report is based on on the general notion that college students who are prone
to engage in exercises are less likely to gain weight. As a result of poor diets and stress in
college, many learners worry about the issue of gaining weight. The study supports a relevant
example in in which exercising is usually utilized by knowledge providers as a way through
which students refresh their minds. In most cases, poor sleeping habits are normal occurrences
for college students. As such, most students end up sleeping during normal class sessions thus
missing out important class details.

Introduction

Firstly, the study is aware that stress is an inevitable party of human life such that it is impossible
to eliminate permanently but could be managed. An analysis of previous reports garnered that a
large number of people use exercise as a way of coping with stress. On the same note, others
reveal that sleeping, watching movies and listening to music are other ways through which stress
could be managed. College students who exercise four or more times within a week are reported
to possess better moods and reduced stress amounts compared to those who hardly engage or
rarely engage in exercises. The assertion that regular exercise is associated with frequent exercise
reveals that more of it is connected with benefits in the body. On this note, this report aims to
answer the question on whether frequent is associated with positive or negative impacts on the
body. Amidst analyzing the content relevant to the identified thesis, the report will focus on
college students with the aim of determining whether too much exercise would impact them, and
in which way? Regular exercising is associated with improved mood and attitude among college
students thus relieving them from stress and tension. Therefore, upon engaging in exercises, the
study garners that learners would benefit. Moreover, the study recommends that knowledge
providers should ensure learners are subjected to exercises to embrace better moods and attitude.
The study garners that engaging in exercise is one way through which the body is put in a
condition such that it would require rest. Engaging in exercise is associated with benefits such as
maintenance of physical fitness and stress reduction. On the same note, exercise is a strategy
through which the body would be set to fight diseases. College learners are prone to various
environmental, social and psychological changes based on the assertion that they shift from high
school to college when changing to adulthood from adolescence. Under such circumstances, they
are prone to suffer from mental health complications since they are exposed to various stressors
including academic problems, individual relationships, employment and career, and also
relationships that are built on opposite-sex (Choi, 2020). College is the time when most learners
socialize with the aim of learning how to develop positive relationships; however, individual
relationships could not be easy to maintain.

Methods

Participants

The study was quasi-experimental in nature based on the assertion that the participants were

given opportunity to participate or quit from participating in the physical fitness event. The study

was conducted as per the following criteria: college students under full-time enrollment in good

health were identified for the research. College students with contraindications when performing

exercises were also excluded from the research study. The research participants were gathered

from both graduate and undergraduate courses regardless of their age. The research did not

specify the minimum of maximum number of college student participating in the event as others

it was assumed that others could opt out.

Protocol

Essential information was gathered surrounding the physical fitness event. It was ensured that the

participants had volunteered to participate in the study up to the final level of engaging in

physical fitness. Students in the research group were instructed by the researcher to engage in a

minimum of one physical fitness activity within a day for entire set duration of the study. Other
college students separated in the control team were instructed to engage in their norms and to

avoid engaging un the physical fitness activities at all costs.

As an aggregate score adopted from Cohen’s Perceived Stress scale, the PPS tool was utilized by

the research since it is serves as the most widely used psychological tool used to measure the

level of stress. The tool was based on ten items that were designed to realize how uncontrollable,

unpredictable and overworked the college participants found their lives. Common questions

utilized include: “In the past month, have you felt that at some point you could hardly cope with

the things you engage in?” and “In the past month, how often did you feel that you were based at

the top of all the things?” . In this line, the participants were advised to choose answers on a

scale that ranged from 0 (Never felt) to 4 (Felt very often). The scores were acquired through

reversing of responses to four items with positive statements. The participants were allowed to

choose events on their own thus the exercise mode and intensity, was dependent on the research

participants. In this regard, the current research study garners that the intensity of exercise does

not moderate the response of antidepressant to extreme exercise.

Results

A total of five out of the five among the participants provided the answer “Yes” in response to

the qualitative question which read“Are you convinced that your participation in the fitness event

helped to minimize your school related stress?” On the same note, a total of four out of the five

participants of the physical event preferred to explain on their respective responses. Furthermore,

the comments presented a uniform concept of mental relaxation following engagement in the

physical fitness event.

Qualitative responses:

“Do you feel that participation in Fitness4Finals events helped to reduce your end-of-semester

stress?”

Participan

t Response Comment

2 Yes In the past, I was a runner such that I was prone to high intensity,The

yoga exercises therefore helped me reduce my stress.

7 Yes The physical exercise program was very helpful in terms of

minimizing stress. On the same note, working out helped me since I

felt like I was objected to a beneficial routine.

8 Yes The exercises made me clear my mind by focusing more on my study.

9 Yes The exercises helped me to feel mentally relaxed.

13 Yes It made me have a break in my mind especially, from school related

work.

Discussion

The major aim of the investigation was to garner whether college students engaging in

frequent exercises would be associated with reduced physiological and psychological stress.

According to the analysis of this research, there is no correlation that exists in between

participation in acute exercises and stress reduction. Results revealed weak connection between

extreme exercises and stress reduction. In this regard, it could be debated that all exercises play a
similar role in the body. Despite the efforts to conduct the current research study, there is need to

conduct future research based on additions and adjustments in the tools through which stress is

measured. This is based on the assertion that a more perceived tool for stress measurement

specifically on college stress could provide even more accurate analysis. Based on the

discrepancies that exist between the current research findings and the other past research, It

could be garnered that engagement in acute exercise does not influence the levels of stress

especially among college student participants. In this line, the study recommends the use of

frequent exercise as a strategy through which the level of stress could be managed. In a similar

study that was conducted previously regarding the association between depression symptoms and

physical activity especially among adolescents, it was garnered that the individuals who were

active in sports were less associated with the development of depression symptoms. On the same

note, it was garnered that exercise improves an individual’s physical ability by generating the

positive physical perception through which personal well-being is enhanced. In this regard, the

purpose of the study is to develop essential data for purposes of depression management through

physical activity. As such, the study focuses on determining whether there is significant

difference in interpersonal relationship and stress propensity based on the amount of physical

activity.

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