ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND EXERCISE BEHAVIOR OF STAFF OF KADUNA POLYTECHNIC, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This examines the phenomena of exercise behavior and physical activities among staff in Kaduna Polytechnic. From reviewed literature, the study explores the extent to which demographic variables such as sex, age, division of duty and duty post influence the exercise behavior and physical activities of staff of the institution. This study adopts Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as the standpoint for interpretation of the data collected. Descriptive survey was adopted for the study, while Cluster and simple random sampling was used to select academic, nonacademic and administrative staff of the Polytechnic as respondents in the study. The study samples were 503 and the instrumentation adopted was questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 24 and Excel 2013 which elicited the descriptive and inferential statistics measured in mean and standard deviation that were subjected to t-test and Analysis of Variances. The findings reveal that; lack of physical activity in the respondents is acute where in the last one year only 17% reported more activeness, while 45.5% are less active and up to 15.5% are none active. In addition, up to 60% of the respondents get less physical activities as  they would have needed; as only 38% of the respondents walk at least one mile without resting, once in many weeks, 23.5% of the respondents reported walking once in a week, as only 6% of respondents reported walking a mile every day of the week. The study conclude that there is less active pattern of exercise behavior in a cross section of the staff of Kaduna polytechnic, in Nigeria. Hence, recommends among other things that, Federal Government through the TETFUND provides sports equipment such as bike, dumbbells and sport physical fitness tools to tertiary institutions. The Polytechnic (Kaduna Polytechnic) should revitalize competitive sport among staffs in the campuses and colleges of the institutions. That the three staff unions in the polytechnic should, tap into their yearly incomes (membership check-dues) to purchase sporting equipment such as treadmills, bikes, weightlifting and dumbbells for colleges, departments and units.