Physical Self-Concept and Physical Activity Levels in University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cluster Analysis

Daniel Duclos-Bastías, Frano Giakoni-Ramírez and Daniel Martínez-Cevallos
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Daniel Duclos-Bastías: Escuela de Educación Física, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaiso 2374631, Chile
Frano Giakoni-Ramírez: Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 7550000, Chile
Daniel Martínez-Cevallos: Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Administrativas, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepcion 4070129, Chile

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 5, 1-14

Abstract: With the COVID-19 pandemic, the physical activity (PA) levels of university students declined as a result of confinement. The aim of the study was to analyse the segmentation of university students according to physical self-concept ratings and to determine the differences between each cluster during the pandemic. The sample consisted of 492 students aged 18–31 years, 36.8% male and 63.2% female, who were administered the PSDQ-S and IPAQ instruments. The data collected were analysed with SPSS software, from which descriptive statistics, a cluster analysis from the PSDQ-S, was obtained. The IPAQ and socio-demographic variables were used to characterise the groups. Finally, a non-hierarchical K-means analysis was performed to establish the clusters. The results reported three different group profiles of students. Significant differences were found in all self-concept variables analysed, with the exception of some items. In relation to PA level, it could be established that the Positive Physical Self-Concept group had the highest PA level and was composed of 52.1% females and 34.4% males, showing a high physical self-concept, whereas, in the Medium-Physical Self-Concept and Negative-Physical Self-Concept groups, females were predominant in number. They were also the least physically active groups and had a low physical self-concept.

Keywords: physical self-concept; clusters; COVID-19; university students; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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