Varghese C. Antony ¹, Rakesh Tomar ²

Affiliations
1 Physical Education Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, SA
2 Physical Education Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Mineral, SA

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Motivation is a complex phenomenon that driven from the ‘inside’ by some needs, impulses, desires, wishes, or motives, and directed towards achieving a goal that from the outside functions as a stimulus for behavior. The objective of the study was to investigate participation motives of Saudi university students towards physical activity at different educational levels. Method: The participants were undergraduate students (n = 1039), mean age 20.60 ± 1.679 yrs. On the basis of educational level five categories were formed as orientation (n = 352), freshmen (n = 293), sophomore (n = 191), junior (n = 93), and senior (n = 110). Motivation for Physical Activities Measure-Revised was administered to measure participation motives. Rank order applied for the most and least important reasons for participation towards physical activity and sports. Findings: University students’ rated the most important reasons for participation towards physical activity and sports as fitness and then appearance factors, which are explained by extrinsic motivation. The least important reason for participation motivation reported was social factors. It was observed that students always take time to find friends. It might be due to this choice of friendship that students consider as the main reason to participate in physical activity Ryckman and Hamel. ANOVA showed significant differences among educational levels on competence factor 3.419, p = .009; social factor 9.746, p = .001. Students tend to improve their competence, enjoyment or interest through physical activity and sports to optimize their physical well-being with progression of educational levels. Application/ Improvement: To impart the knowledge of fitness and health benefits, mentors and counselors should help and motivate students to take up the physical activities seriously. The infrastructural facilities for physical activities are not optimizing it to their advantage. To optimize the social experience of students there is a need for strategies to reduce the gap in socialization among students.

Keywords

Educational Level, Fitness, Motivation, Participation, Physical Activity

Full Text

   

Rakesh Tomar ¹, Abdul Hameed Al Ameer ¹, Varghese C. Antony ¹

Affiliations
1 King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran - 34464, SA

Abstract

Background/Objectives: To describe the perception and awareness of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) among university teachers of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and to compare if there were differences between high and low risk groups on knowledge of cardiovascular disease. Method: A questionnaire consisting of 44 statements adopted from Heart Disease Fact Questionnaire -2 (HDFQ -2) and Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) was distributed to 87 teachers of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) to assess knowledge of Cardiovascular Disease among participants. The study took place between 1st January 2012 and 1st January 2014 at KFUPM, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. An exploratory study design was used to describe the perception and awareness towards of teachers towards CVD. T -Test was employed to compare knowledge of heart disease between risk groups. Results: Results revealed no significant difference between low and high risk groups on knowledge of Cardiovascular Disease (t = -.372, p = .711). The mean knowledge scores for low risk group were (72.97) while high risk group was (74.31). From results it was evident that greater awareness and knowledge of heart disease does not affect life style or risk factors of heart disease. Application/Improvement: There was no relation between knowledge of Cardiovascular Disease, lifestyle habits and risk factors among teachers. Teachers misperceived their general health and body mass. Higher risk group teachers were unable to perceive their heath correctly.

Keywords

Cardiovascular Disease;Perception;university teachers

Full Text

   

Rakesh Tomar ¹, Varghese C. Antony ¹

Affiliations
1 King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, SA

Abstract

Objectives: Present study examined how 16 weeks of six a side supervised recreational football affected serum immunoglobulin and white blood cells in untrained males. Methods/Analysis: We selected 27 untrained males having mean age (18.87±.79) years. These participants were then randomly allocated to two groups; football (n = 12) and control group (n = 15). Sixteen weeks of supervised recreational football training was offered to football group. Football sessions were conducted two times a week with 30min duration. Analysis of Covariance was employed to find any difference in two groups after 16 weeks of football training. Findings: Significant increase was seen after 16 weeks in total white blood cell count (P = 0.001), eosinophil (P = 0.006) and basophil (P = 0.005), while no significant improvement was observed in Neutrophil (P = 0.797), lymphocytes (P = 0.820), IgA (P = .158), IgG (P = .077) and IgM (P= .655). Monocytes and eosinophil counts decreased significantly whereas basophil counts increased significantly post football training. Novelty/ Improvement: Sixteen weeks of supervised recreation football training was effective in increasing total WBC count in untrained males. Our training was vigorous in nature as indicated by high average heart rate during the training sessions. Further, recreation football could not affect serum immunoglobulin significantly but there was some substantive increase in IgG levels.

Keywords

Intervention, Football, Recreation, Serum Immunoglobulin, Six a Side, White Blood Cell.

Full Text