A BELIEF-BASED JUMP ROPE INTERVENTION TO PROMOTE LEISURE-TIME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG INACTIVE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN SOUTH KOREA: A PERCEPTION AND PROCESS EVALUATIONef-Based Jump Rope Intervention to Promote Leisure-Time Physical Activity among Inactive University Students: A Process and Outcome Evaluation

Abstract

Despite persistently low levels of physical activity among university students following the COVID-19 pandemic, theory-driven interventions targeting inactive students remain limited.  The study developed, implemented and evaluated a belief-based leisure-time physical activity promotion program for inactive university students.  Inactive undergraduate students engaging in less than 150 minutes of physical activity per week were recruited from a South Korean university.  A four-week jump rope intervention was implemented.  Process evaluations, including reach, dose delivered, dose received, and fidelity, were assessed at the midpoint and the post-intervention stages.  Group-by-time effects on leisure-time physical activity-related beliefs, intentions and behaviors were assessed using a generalized linear model with repeated measurements at four time points (pre-intervention, midpoint, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up).  Significant changes in the intervention effects were observed for key leisure-time physical activity-related beliefs.  Compared with the control group, physically inactive students with high intervention adherence demonstrated greater increases in perceived mental and physical health benefits from the post-intervention period through to the one-month follow-up.  Improvements were also observed in the perceived “friends’ approval” and control beliefs related to exercise facilities and exercise partners, particularly at the midpoint assessment.  These findings indicate that belief-based leisure-time physical activity interventions informed by empirically identified beliefs can effectively modify targeted beliefs among physically inactive university students.  Future studies should determine whether sustained belief changes can translate into longer-term improvements in physical activity behavior.