Testing the mediation effect of psychological health on physical activity status and physical activity barriers in university students with structural equation model

The research was conducted to examine the mediating effect of psychological health on physical activity status and physical activity barriers in university students. The sample of the study consisted of 934 students continuing their undergraduate education at Çankırı Karatekin University in the spring semester of the 2021-2022 academic year. Data were collected using Personal Information Form, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Physical Activity Disability Scale and General Health Questionnaire-12. Descriptive and relationship-seeking designs were used in the study. In the evaluation of the data; mean, significance test of the difference between two means (Student T Test), one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation coefficient for correlation analysis, and AMOS program for the mediating effect of psychological health were used. According to the findings obtained from the research, it was determined that "personal" and "physical" disabilities, which are the subscales of Physical Activity Barriers, have a statistically significant and negative effect on psychological health, whereas psychological health has a statistically significant and positive effect on physical activity. In the study, it was also determined that psychological health has a statistically significant and negative effect on the time spent sitting and has a partial mediation role. As a result, it was determined that physical and personal activity barriers of university students affect psychological health, as physical and personal barriers increase, students' physical activity decreases and their psychological health status is negatively affected. These findings are highly important in terms of showing that the psychological and physical health of university students is an inseparable and important whole. For this reason, it is recommended to increase the types of sports, walking, exercise, and physical activity on university campuses, to make plans for students to integrate these activities into their daily routines, to encourage them, and to reward students who do these activities with on-campus entertainment such as theatre and concerts. Key Words: Mental Health, Physical Activity, Student, University.