IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF COLLEGE STUDENTS THROUGH PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS PARTICIPATION

IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF COLLEGE STUDENTS THROUGH PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS PARTICIPATION

BY

DR. BABS ADEGBAMIGBE
CHIEF LECTURER
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION
ADENIRAN OGUNSANYA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
OTTO/IJANIKIN, LAGOS.

Abstract
Purpose: This study was designed to investigate students’ perceptions of the factors that improve their quality of life through physical education and sport participations. One of the most striking problems of quality of life improvement today is the sedentary life we live and the lack of participation in physical education and sports, which arises as a result of inability of students to have improved quality life. This improvement of quality life is concerned with the promotion of health status of individuals and communities. Methods and Materials: 250 students were randomly selected from the department of physical and health education and college athletes of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Otto/Ijanikin, Lagos. Questionnaires were used as the instrument for data collection while simple percentatges and chi-square (X2) analysis were employed in data analysis and testing the formulated hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. Results: Findings from the study shows that factors like happiness to partake in sporting activities, keeping faith in physical activities/fitness and personal interests improves the quality of life of the students, which helped maintained their good health. Conclusions: Physical education and sports participation among the students influenced their quality of life greatly, which improves their quality health. However, they encountered fewer problems, which they believed didnot impede their quality of life. A number of recommendations were made on the improvements of quality life through physical education and sport participations.

Keywords: Health, Participation, Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, Quality Life.

Introduction
Life is defined as the

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