Perceived Constraints to Physical Activity Among Postgraduate Students of Pondicherry University

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate physical activity (PA) constraints as perceived by postgraduate students of Pondicherry University. Five indicators were included which were lack of lack of self-skill, lack of time, academic anxiety, academic workload, and religious activities. The study adopted a survey design with 278 respondents selected from fifteen schools using stratified and clustered sampling technique. A self-developed questionnaire validated by experts with a reliability co-efficient of .78 was used as the main instrument for data collection. The data generated were analyzed using percentages and mean to answer the research questions, while chisquare statistical tool was used to test the null hypotheses at .05 level of significance. The results revealed that self-skill, lack of time, academic anxiety, academic workload and religious activities were perceived as significant constraints to physical activity among postgraduate students of the Pondicherry University. It was recommended that the University directorate of sport should organize such activities requiring little or no special skills, proper scheduling of leisure and PA compatible with the school time table, the school should provide a framework for emergency healthcare particularly for sport injuries and individuals should take responsibilities for their own health by enjoying the leisure time. Also, school authority should work in collaboration with various religious leaders within the campus to establish control and effective time management.