The Associations Between Leisure, Stress, and Health Behavior Among University Students

ABSTRACT

Background: Research on health behavior within the context of leisure and stress coping in university students is limited. Purpose: This study investigated the associations between leisure, health behavior, and perceived stress in university students. Other impacts, such as gender, grade point average (GPA), body mass index (BMI), and parents’ education on stress and health behavior, were also examined. Method: Researchers employed a cross-sectional research design by distributing surveys in classes or outside classes on a Midwestern U.S. university campus. Results: Leisure satisfaction and intrinsic leisure motivation predicted health behavior positively and predicted perceived stress negatively, and apathy toward leisure was associated with higher perceived stress and lower health behavior. Perceived stress mediated the relationship between leisure satisfaction and health behavior. Discussion: This study suggests that leisure satisfaction has benefits for health behavior in the form of stress management. Translation to Health Education Practice: Health Educators should consider incorporating leisure education and/or leisure activities to decrease stress, improve overall health, and decrease health risks.

Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate faculty members and teaching assistants at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale who assisted in collecting the data for this study.