INFLUENCE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND EXERCISE ON THE ACADEMIC LIFE OF UNDERGRADUATES IN THE FACULTY OF EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF BENIN

This study investigated the influence of regular physical activity and exercise on undergraduates in the Faculty of Education, University of Benin. It was a descriptive survey that employed qualitative and quantitative survey approach in analyzing data. The main problem of the study was that students appear to face numerous barriers to becoming physically active. Five (5) research questions were raised to guide the study with one hypothesis tested. The significance of the study from the results, shows that students will be exposed to the vulnerability of physical inactivity and the consequences it has on the academic life of undergraduates. The (sample of the study was 200 selected from 400 level undergraduate students of a total population of 1.852 during the study year in the Faculty of Education, University of Benin). Questionnaire was used as instrument to collect data. The Cronbach alpha co-efficient was used to determine the dependability of the instrument and the reliability of co-efficient was found to be 0.76 which was considered satisfactory for establishing the reliability of the instrument. The statistical techniques used to analyze data collected were frequencies and percentages. An independent t-test was also used to test the hypothesis. The results showed among others that, lack of physical activity and exercise contributed to poor academic outcome and disposition. The recommendation therefore was that, fitness clubs that will engage these students in physical activity and exercise are to be provided to make them have easy access to facilities/equipment that would augment regular physical activity and thereby subsequently improving their fitness level towards the pursuance of their academic goal in the university