Comparative analysis of health behaviors among female university students: The impact of sports activity on psychological, physical, and nutritional dimensions

This study conducted a comparative analysis of health behaviors (psychological, physical, and nutritional) related to sports activity among female students at Mohamed Lamine Debaghine University Setif 2, using a descriptive research design, the study included 122 female students from, data were collected using a questionnaire measuring healthy lifestyle behaviors, Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, including Mann-Whitney U tests to compare practitioners and non-practitioners of physical activity. The results revealed statistically significant differences in physical, psychological, and nutritional patterns related to practicing physical activity. Practitioners consistently demonstrated higher mean ranks across all three dimensions compared to non-practitioners. The psychological dimension showed the most pronounced difference (U = 918.75, Z = 4.452, p < 0.001), followed by the physical (U = 1167.73, Z = 3.129, p = 0.002) and nutritional dimensions (U = 1165.50, Z = 3.243, p = 0.001). These findings highlight the positive impact of regular physical activity on overall health behaviors among female university students. The study recommends implementing comprehensive physical activity programs tailored specifically for female students, integrating sports and exercise into the curriculum and campus life. Additionally, developing targeted interventions to address the psychological dimension is crucial, as it showed the most significant difference between practitioners and non-practitioners. This could include stress management workshops and mental health support services linked to physical activity.