Exercise and mental health among malaysian sports studies undergraduates: a quantitative analysis of gender differences, barriers, and correlations / Muhamad Amir Aiman Kharuddin and Muhd Asraf Zulzali

This study explores the relationship between exercise and mental health among FSR students at UiTM Seremban, focusing on exercise levels, mental health status, gender-based differences, and their correlation. Despite proven benefits, barriers like time [1], motivation [1,2], and social support [3] hinder regular exercise, impacting mental health [4,5,6]. Addressing these challenges can promote healthier lifestyles among students. This quantitative, non-experimental study employed a bilingual questionnaire in English and Malay to collect data from FSR students at UiTM Seremban. A sample of 333 respondents was selected, accounting for a 20% non-response rate from the target population of 1,000 students. Data included exercise levels, mental health, and demographics such as gender, age, education level, and course.