PHYSICAL FITNESS AND EXERCISE BEHAVIORS OF FACULTY OF EDUCATION STUDENTS, SONGKLA RAJABHAT UNIVERSITY

Main Article Content

Palakorn Nakarabandid
Jeeranan Kaewma

Abstract

This quantitative research aimed to 1) study the levels of physical fitness and exercise behaviors, 2) compare physical fitness and exercise behaviors categorized by gender, academic year, and major, and 3) examine the relationship between exercise behaviors and physical fitness among undergraduate students at the Faculty of Education, Songkhla Rajabhat University. The sample consisted of 405 students in the 2025 academic year, selected through stratified random sampling. The research instruments included a questionnaire (assessing knowledge, attitude, and practice) and a physical fitness test, validated for content validity (IOC = 0.67-1.00) and reliability (0.87-0.97). Data were analyzed using percentage, mean, standard deviation, independent t-test, One-Way ANOVA, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. The results revealed that: 1) Physical fitness levels: The majority of the students had a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) and a good level of muscular endurance. Flexibility and cardiorespiratory endurance were at a moderate level, whereas muscular strength was at a very low level. Exercise behaviors: Students demonstrated a high level of knowledge and a good attitude, but their practical behavior was at a moderate level. 2) Comparison: Students from different majors had significantly different physical fitness and exercise behaviors at the .05 level, while gender and academic year showed no significant differences. 3) Relationship: Attitude had a very weak negative correlation with body composition, flexibility, and muscular strength. Similarly, practical behavior showed a very weak negative correlation with body composition at a statistically significant level. Meanwhile, knowledge showed no correlation with physical fitness. It is recommended that the institution integrate tailored health promotion activities specific to the context of each major to reduce sedentary behavior. Furthermore, driving the "Healthy Faculty of Education" policy is crucial to physically prepare pre-service teachers as health role models for youth.

Article Details

How to Cite
Nakarabandid, P., & Kaewma, J. (2026). PHYSICAL FITNESS AND EXERCISE BEHAVIORS OF FACULTY OF EDUCATION STUDENTS, SONGKLA RAJABHAT UNIVERSITY. Sports Science and Health Innovation Journal, Rajabhat University Group of Thailand, 5(3), 178–186. retrieved from https://he03.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/SPSC_Network/article/view/5521
Section
บทความวิจัย

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