Dr Joseph Odey Ogabor, Dr Sanusi Mohammed, Dr Martina Ayibeya Apie, Christiana Ofie Ukpata, Peter Owogoga Aduma & Dr Felicia Agbor-Obun Dan
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between exercise participation and perceived health status of academic staff of tertiary institutions in Calabar Metropolis, Cross River State, Nigeria. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A sample of two hundred and thirty-eight (238) academic staff members was surveyed from a population of two hundred and sixty-four (264) senior lecturers in the Faculties of Education of two public universities in Calabar Metropolis. Data was collected with the use of a questionnaire titled “Exercise Participation and Perceived Health Status Questionnaire” (EPPHSQ). The questionnaire was validated by an expert in Health Education and two (2) others in Test and Measurement in the University of Calabar. Cronbach alpha method was used to establish the reliability of the instrument. The coefficient obtained was 0.711, which showed high reliability of the research instrument. Pearson product moment correlation statistical tool was utilized for data analysis. The finding of this study reveals that there is a significant positive relationship between exercise participation and the perceived health status of academic staff in the study area. Based on this finding, it was recommended that Health Educators should intensify their efforts in sensitizing academic staff on the need to continue participating actively in various exercises in order to help them live healthily and maintain a sound mind in a healthy body.