2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

The Relationship Between Basic Needs Theory, Perceived Barriers and Physical Activity Levels in College Students

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-24-2026

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Eric Martin

Abstract

College is a pivotal time for individuals to develop lifelong habits. One especially important habit is regular exercise with standard recommendations being 150 minutes of aerobic activity and 2 weight sessions for all major muscle groups per week. However less than 50% of college students meet this standard (Bailey et al, 2022). Additionally, mental health issues and stress for young people is at an all time high. With the well-understood benefit exercise has shown to have on mental health, this study aimed to determine the relationship between the basic needs theory (autonomy, competence and relatedness) and physical activity in college students. Higher fulfillment of basic needs is associated with increased intrinsic motivation and greater life satisfaction. Participants (n = 301) completed several surveys including the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Psychological Needs Satisfaction for Exercise Scale, Barriers to Exercise Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Overall, participants reported high levels of physical activity, with 63.9% of participants achieving HEPA (Health-Enhancing Physical Activity) active status, the most active category from the IPAQ. However, despite this finding, over 75% of participants reported moderate to high levels of stress. Additionally almost half of participants met the criteria for a “mild mental disorder.” Overall, despite high activity levels, stress remained high, alluding that college may be an even more stressful time than previously considered for current college students. More positively, those who reported higher physical activity levels also reported higher levels in all three of the basic needs, autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Perceived barriers to exercise among college students were generally low, with the most significant barrier being that exercise felt fatiguing. Fundamentally, this study contributes to the understanding of the role of physical activity on campus and can better inform wellness interventions for students.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS