2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-24-2026

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Eric Martin

Abstract

Research suggests that participation in regular physical activity as defined by the recommended physical activity guidelines can have a positive impact on numerous aspects of physical health and mental well-being. One of the benefits of physical activity is a reduction in stress levels and an overall improvement in mental health. Due to the nature of the college environment, college students are vulnerable to experiencing stress, which may be compounded by a failure to reach minimum physical activity guidelines and an inability to cope with academic demands. This research study aims to explore the relationship between physical activity levels, stress, distress, and academic coping mechanisms in order to inform methods of improving student well-being. Undergraduate students at Boise State University (n = 301) completed a series of scales, including the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10) and the Brief-COPE. Despite many participants reporting high levels of physical activity, more than 75% reported moderate levels of stress. Further, participants reported moderate levels of psychological distress with over half meeting criteria for “mild mental disorder”. Participants primarily employed emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies and these strategies were similar regardless of physical activity level. Additionally, although problem-focused coping strategies did not have a significant correlation with either stress and distress levels, both emotion-focused and avoidant coping strategies were correlated with higher levels of stress and distress. The findings of this study suggest that physical activity alone may not be enough to alleviate the mental challenges associated with being a college student, and that stress and distress levels may persist even when positive coping strategies are employed.

Download

Share

COinS