A sex-specific comparative analysis on physical activity levels and exercise motivation in the digital age among Filipino physical education collegiate students

Background and Study Aim. The digitalization of daily life has significantly transformed the lifestyle and activity patterns of university students. This shift raises concerns about their physical activity levels and motivation to exercise. This study investigates sex-specific differences in physical activity levels and exercise motivation among Filipino collegiate students in the context of a highly digitalized environment. Material and Methods. A quantitative, comparative research design was used. A total of 236 purposively sampled students (103 females, 131 males) enrolled in the “Physical Activity Towards Health and Fitness 1” course at Bulacan State University (AY 2024–2025) participated. Physical activity levels were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Exercise motivation was measured through the Exercise Motivation Inventory-2 (EMI-2). Both are validated tools with strong psychometric properties. Data collection was conducted via a secure Google Form following ethical clearance. Non-parametric tests were employed due to non-normal variable distributions (p < .05). Results. The Mann–Whitney U test showed that males had significantly higher MET scores than females (Z = -2.94, p = .003, r = .19). Males also scored significantly higher in several motivational subdomains: affiliation, competition, health pressure, nimbleness, and social recognition. Females scored higher in ill-health avoidance (all p < .05). No significant differences were found in other subdomains such as appearance, enjoyment, and stress management. Conclusions. These findings highlight the importance of designing gender-responsive health promotion strategies in higher education. Future research should adopt objective measures and longitudinal approaches to better track the evolving exercise behaviors of Filipino youth in the digital age.