Examination of physical activity level in university students in terms of depression, anxiety and quality of life

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between physical activity level and depression, anxiety and quality of life in university students. This study was carried out at Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul. A total of 403 people were included. The data collection tools of this study were sociodemographic data form, International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory and SF-36 Quality of Life Scale Short Form. Male students have higher quality of life than females in the areas of physical function, physical role difficulty, emotional role difficulty, mental health and social functionality. While the average anxiety score of the participants was 17.15, the average depression score was 13.48. Depression levels of female students are higher than male students. No significant correlation was found between the students' gender, place of birth, presence of chronic disease and physical activity levels, and 4.5% were not physically active, 38.2% were minimally active, and 57.3% were very active. Those who are physically inactive have significantly lower anxiety levels than those who are minimally active and very active. Students who are physically inactive have significantly lower depression levels than those who are minimally active and very active; the depression level of those who are very active is higher than those who are inactive and minimally active. Those who are very physically active have a higher quality of life in the field of physical function than those who are minimally active and inactive. In the areas of physical role difficulty, emotional role difficulty, energy/vitality, social functionality and pain, students who are physically inactive have a higher quality of life. The results of this study emphasize the importance of physical activity level in terms of improving the quality of life, but it is important to support the results with future studies