The Relationship Between Body Composition, Physical Activity, And Physiological Stress In College Females

PURPOSE: Although physical activity (PA) is associated with improved psychological well-being, tools used to assess one’s perceived stress have equivocal relationships with PA and body composition in college-aged females. This study investigated the relationship between PA, body composition, and psychological stress. METHODS: 13 females (aged 18-23 y) completed a protocol during which self-reported physical activity, perceived stress, and anthropometrics were recorded. Anthropometrics included height, body mass, and body composition [via bioelectrical impedance (BF%)]. PA was assessed via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Perceived stress was assessed with Chronic Stress Exposure (CSE), Weekly Stress Inventory - Short Form (WSI), Perceived Stress Scale 14 (PSS-14), and Perceived Stress Scale 10 (PSS-10). The WSI produces an event score (WSIE) and impact score (WSII); both were used in this analysis. Pearson’s correlations were used to explore the relationships between PA, anthropometrics, and stress scores. RESULTS: IPAQ scores (5946 ± 3883 MET▪mins▪week-1) were weakly but negatively correlated with all stress scores (CSE; 4 ± 1 au, r = -0.14, WSII; 40 ± 23 au, r = -0.05, PSS-14; 29 ± 7 au, r = -0.03, PSS-10; 19 ± 6 au, r = -0.07), except the WSIE (14 ± 5 au, r = 0.23). BF% (31.6 ± 9.3%) was positively correlated with all stress scores (CSE; r = 0.24, WSIE; r = 0.44, WSII; r = 0.36, PSS-14; r = 0.06, PSS-10; r = 0.13). CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of PA were weakly associated with lower stress scores, regardless of the tool. Alternatively, body composition was low-to-moderately associated with higher stress scores. Measurement issues related to self-reported PA may impair researchers’ ability to investigate relationships with other outcomes of interest related to psychological stress.