Physical Activity and Physical Fitness among University Students—A Systematic Review

Vidran Kljajević, Mima Stanković, Dušan Đorđević, Drena Trkulja-Petković, Rade Jovanović, Kristian Plazibat, Mario Oršolić, Mijo Čurić and Goran Sporiš
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Vidran Kljajević: Secondary Vocational School, Bijelo Polje 84000, Montenegro
Mima Stanković: Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš, 18000 Nis, Serbia
Dušan Đorđević: Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš, 18000 Nis, Serbia
Drena Trkulja-Petković: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, 10110 Zagreb, Croatia
Rade Jovanović: Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš, 18000 Nis, Serbia
Kristian Plazibat: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, 10110 Zagreb, Croatia
Mario Oršolić: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, 10110 Zagreb, Croatia
Mijo Čurić: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Goran Sporiš: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb, 10110 Zagreb, Croatia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: The aim of this systematic review was to examine the scientific evidence regarding physical activity and physical fitness among university students. The search and analysis of the studies were done in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. An electronic databases search (Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus) yielded 11,839 studies. Subsequently, the identified studies had to be published in English between 2011 and 2021, the experimental study had to have included males and females attending a faculty, and the participants had to have been evaluated for physical activity and fitness. A total of 21 studies were included in the quantitative synthesis, with a total of 7306 participants, both male and female. After analyzing the obtained results, it could be concluded that university students show a satisfactory level of physical activity and physical fitness. However, the results vary due to different factors involved, mostly related to the cultural differences and educational systems in different countries. As this study observes mediocre results of physical activity and physical fitness among university students, it is crucial to get their attention and awareness, to at least maintain a satisfactory level of physical activity and physical fitness.

Keywords: exercise; students; assessment; physical fitness; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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