Physical Activity, Psychological Well-being, and Academic Functioning in University Students: Implications for Educational and Vocational Guidance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21500222Keywords:
Academic Functioning, Educational Guidance, Physical Activity, Student Well-Being, University StudentsAbstract
Objective: To examine the relationship between physical activity, academic functioning, fatigue, burnout, and depressive symptoms in university students, and the implications of these findings for education and career guidance services..
Materials and Methods: A total of 101 students were included in this cross-sectional study. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form (IPAQ–SF), academic performance using grade point average (GPA), fatigue using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), burnout using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and depressive symptoms using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
Results: There were no significant differences between inactive, sufficiently active, and very active students in academic functioning (p=0.692), fatigue (p=0.266), and burnout subscales (p=0.679; p=0.447; and p=0.234, respectively). However, depressive symptoms differed significantly across physical activity groups (p=0.030). Post hoc analyses showed that inactive students had significantly higher depressive symptom scores than sufficiently active students (z=2.555, Bonferroni-adjusted p=0.032). Physical activity was negatively correlated with depressive symptoms (r= –0.220; p=0.027). However, it did not remain an independent predictor of depressive symptoms in the adjusted regression model (B= –1.946, β=–0.129, p=0.179). Depersonalization (B=0.754, β=0.239, p=0.027) and personal accomplishment (B= –1.072, β= –0.305, p=0.006) emerged as significant predictors of depressive symptoms.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that depressive symptoms in university students may be related to
psychosocial, academic, and lifestyle factors. Education and guidance services can benefit from holistic strategies that support psychological well-being, academic adjustment, and healthy lifestyle behaviors.
Keywords: Academic Functioning, Educational Guidance, Physical Activity, Student Well-Being, University Students
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Copyright (c) 2026 NAZLI GÜNGÖR EROĞLU, Sevde Betül KARA, Recep Enes ÇELİK, Nazlı Hilal YANIK, Beyza ŞENGÜL, Shayesteh ASGHARPOORGOLRODBARI, Mahym GYLYCHMYRADOVA
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