Modeling extracurricular activity participation with physical and mental health in college students over time

Abstract

Objective: To describe extracurricular activity participation and explore its relationship with college students’ health. Participants: 159 college students majoring in dental hygiene or occupational therapy. Methods: Data were collected prospectively at baseline, one- and two-year follow-ups. Self-reported participation in extracurricular activities over the past six months was grouped into eight categories: Fitness, Sports, Creative arts, Leisure, Social, Work, Caregiving, and Animal care. Physical and mental health were measured using SF-36, a valid tool measuring general health. Results: Participation in fitness, sports, creative arts, and work significantly decreased at one-year and two-year follow-ups (p < 0.01). Work/volunteer activity participation was associated with poorer physical health (β = –1.4, 95% CI: (–2.2, −0.5), p < 0.01), but a change from nonparticipation to some participation in work/volunteer activity was associated with better mental health (β = 2.6, 95% CI (0.3, 4.9), p = 0.04). Conclusions: Educators should consider the potential impact of maintaining extracurricular activities on college students’ health when designing academic courses.

Keywords:

• College student
• extracurricular activity
• health
• SF-36
• well-being

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States of America and received approval from the Institutional Review Boards of the University of Southern California and Loma Linda University.

Funding

This work was supported by grant number R01 OH010665 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC.