Individual and socio-ecological correlates of physical activity among Arab and Jewish college students in Israel.

BACKGROUND: Ample research has assessed correlates of physical activity (PA) among college students; however, socioenvironmental correlates of PA have not been assessed in Arab and Jewish Israeli college students.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 198 Arab and Jewish physical education college students. The dependent variable was meeting the CDC/ACSM guidelines for moderate/ vigorous PA. Independent variables consisted of individual variables (eg, ethnicity, gender, religious observance), and socioenvironmental variables (eg, street lighting, family support, exercise facilities). Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used.

RESULTS: Thirty three percent of the students met the recommended guidelines for PA. Individual variables were more highly correlated with PA than socioenvironmental variables. In the final logistic regression model three individual covariates independently predicted PA: gender, race/ethnicity, and self-efficacy. Access to open space was the only environmental variable significantly correlated with PA.

CONCLUSIONS: The results underscore the need for implementing an intervention program aimed at promoting the recommended levels of PA among Arab and Jewish Israeli physical education college students, while tailoring the intervention to individual risk markers for physical inactivity (eg, race/ethnicity, gender).