Factors That Affect the Usage of Fitness and Recreation Centers by Students on College Campuses

Abstract

This study analyzed factors that influence why students attend or not attend fitness and recreation centers provided to them on campus. With the obesity epidemic growing over the past decades, it has consequentially affected a vast majority of the nation, including the college-age population. The use of fitness and recreation centers on college campuses and universities has become a focal point for administrators and recreation center managers. This study utilized an online questionnaire that assessed fitness and recreation center usage within the college population. The survey used assessed factors related to college students’ usage or non-usage of campus recreational facilities. It was distributed to a random sample of 1,100 undergraduate students at a university through their student e-mail account. Results from the data collected revealed that users were more likely to be male, Caucasian, non-smokers, and have no health concerns. Factors related to usage of the recreational facilities included maintaining one’s current weight as well as weight loss. Factors that influenced occasional non-usage in the user group were lack of time and energy, too much schoolwork, and inadequate facility operational hours. A factor related to nonusage included proximity of the recreational facility in relation to the students’ living arrangements.