Association Between Physical Activity Level and Perceived Stress among Students of a Sports and Health Sciences Faculty in Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Physical activity is an important determinant of physical and psychological health. University students are particularly vulnerable to stress due to academic and social demands, making it relevant to examine its association with physical activity. The objective was to analyze the association between physical activity level and perceived stress among students of the Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences, Universitas Negeri Makassar. Methods: This quantitative study used a cross-sectional design. Participants were selected using a non-probability convenience sampling method, resulting in 100 respondents. Physical activity was assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), and stress was measured using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). The association between variables was analyzed using the Chi-square test with a significance level of 0.05. Results: Most students had high physical activity levels (59%) and moderate stress levels (81%). The Chi-square analysis showed no statistically significant association between physical activity and stress (p = 0.572). Conclusion: No significant association was found between physical activity level and perceived stress in this cross-sectional sample. Further longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the relationship.