Perceptions of the Availability of Recreational Physical Activity Facilities on a University Campus

Abstract

Objective: The author's purpose in this study was to assess perceptions of recreational physical activity (PA) facilities on a university campus. Participants: Four-hundred and sixtyseven undergraduate students participated in this study (women = 293; men = 174). Results: The author found a significant percentage difference between women and men concerning the availability of racquetball courts on campus, 47% vs 63%, t(465) = -3.274. The author similarly found a significant percentage difference between women and men's perceptions concerning the availability of tennis courts. Twenty-seven percent of women were unaware or did not know tennis courts were available for PA, in comparison with 19% of men t(465) = -2.413. Awareness of recreational facilities revealed significant differences (Pillai's Trace = .189, p < .05) between freshmen and upperclassmen. Freshmen perceived themselves to have access to fewer recreational facilities on campus. Conclusion: More efforts to increase awareness of PA facilities are needed on university campuses.

Keywords:

• awareness of recreational facilities
• physical activity