THE EFFECT OF CONTEMPORARY TECHNOLOGY ON STUDENTS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PATTERNS

Abstract

The burden of physical inactivity amongst the global population has become an increasingly prevalent issue, with much of today’s society displaying increased sedentary behaviour thus reduced physical activity. What’s more, modern technology appears to have improved to such a level that global physical activity patterns may be affected, with some researchers indicating that technology may be utilised to enhance physical activity patterns, or alternatively reduce physical activity patterns. Having established such a prominent issue with regards to global physical activity patterns and increasing use of modernised technology, the purpose of this enquiry was to investigate physical activity patterns amongst a sample of university sports students; with specific intentions of discovering exactly how contemporary technology affects this populations physical activity patterns. In order to conduct the investigation, a total of seventy five sports students from the Cardiff Metropolitan University (CMU) in South Wales were randomly recruited. All data was obtained via a self-complete questionnaire. Overall results obtained from this investigation indicated that various forms of screen based technology (i.e. television viewing and computer use) was associated with lower PA patterns and increased amounts of time spent sitting on an average week day. What’s more additional findings with reference to students transport usage and walking patterns were deemed not significant, thus suggesting that students walking patterns were not affected by transport use. Finally further findings discovered within the present study also indicated that some forms of technology may be utilised as a mechanism to enhance PA patterns (i.e. iPod and sports/heart rate monitor use).