Predictive model of the intention to practice physical activity in university students of pedagogy in Anto-fagasta (Chile)

Abstract

The drop in the physical activity between the youth produces concern among the physical activity and health professionals. Several authors present the existing problems of physical inactivity in Latin America, highlighting the decrease in practice as age increases. Different researches have tried to identify variables that could explain this decline. The aim of this study is to establish the relationship between the perceived fitness and some characteristics of present practice and how these ones predict the future physical practice. The sample was composed of 299 students of several careers of Pedagogy belonging to the University of Antofagasta (Chile). Descriptive, correlational and regression analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical program. Among the obtained results, it stands out, on the one hand, the significant interrelationship between the variables which describes the current physical activity, the perceived fitness and the priority physical activity. And on the other, all the variables under study are predictors of physical activity practice in the future. This discovery highlights the importance of strengthening the sports programs from the university that adapt to the needs of university students. Keywords: physical activity; perceived fitness; university; Latin America.