Steps to serenity: embracing physical activity for stress relief in Vietnamese higher education

In recent years, increased understanding has led individuals to prioritize exercise for the purposes of sustaining health, achieving weight loss, preventing various diseases, and alleviating stress. This research aims to deepen our understanding of human exercise behavior by examining the factors that influence this trend. The writers utilize the framework of "Social Learning Theory" to elucidate the correlation among influencing factors, exercise behavior, and stress relief. This study details a survey that involved 323 participants, primarily Vietnamese college students with a focus on tourism. The analysis comprised 151 males and 172 females. This research employed structural equation modeling (SEM) for data analysis. The results showed that enabling circumstances and social impact have a positive impact on stress relief, with exercise activity playing a mediating role. The model accounts for 57.3% of the variance in exercise behavior and 57.1% in stress relief. Moreover, social impact has a direct favorable impact on students' stress relief. In conclusion, both enabling factors and social impact are associated with increased exercise activity. These characteristics increase the likelihood of students participating in exercise and reducing their academic stress. The study also that the institution introduces a course that combines academics with yoga and team sports to the general education curriculum. The institution should offer on-campus fitness or partner with local gyms. Finally, joining clubs and organizations might encourage university students to exercise.