Physically active students have improved wellbeing and social connections, new survey from ukactive and partners shows
01 July 2020
Students who are more active enjoy higher levels of wellbeing and social inclusion, according to a new survey supported by ukactive and delivered by AoC Sport and the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).
The British Active Students Survey (BASS) 2019/2020, supported by Sport England, found that students who undertake more physical activity also experience a reduction in loneliness and increased confidence of finding employment.
With AoC Sport in association with Matrix Fitness representing further education colleges and BUCS acting as the governing body for university sport, the survey is designed to identify the impact physical activity is having on students in education across the UK.
It also found that more active students have improved perceptions of academic success and employability, compared to fairly active or inactive students.
Key findings:
The report calls for college and university students to be given more support to increase their physical activity levels, and that this is a responsibility that is shared between the educational institutions, policy makers and welfare organisations.
Students indicated that the biggest motivator to take part in physical activity was to look after their health. The largest barrier in participation was being too busy with studies.
However, students who participated in physical activity did not say that it interfered with their studies. Other barriers to participation included clubs being too expensive to join or that students perceived activities as being unwelcoming.
The data collected and presented within this report was collected before the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and restrictions subsequently put in place. The findings have been presented as such and are not reflective of any changes that may have occurred due to the pandemic and restrictions.
Dr Matthew Wade, ukactive Head of Research, said: “We are now in the fourth year of collecting data on the association between students' physical activity levels and types of activity, which shows the benefits of being active while studying.
“The results show a positive impact on mental and personal wellbeing, social inclusion, social trust, a reduction in loneliness, and improved perceptions of high academic attainment and employability prospects.
“Providing activity opportunities can help students with their studies and form great fitness habits for the rest of their lives.
"Students face a challenging time due to COVID-19, which may have implications for the resumption of further and higher education physical activity, so we are calling on educational institutions to make sure physical activity will be a priority when students do return.”
Dean Hardman, AoC Director of Sport and Student Experience, said: “The British Active Students Survey provides vital insight into how young people perceive sport and physical activity and provides important evidence on which to base our strategic decisions.
"The results highlight once again the many positive long-term benefits on students' physical and mental health from being active and engaging in sport and physical activity.
“In the aftermath of the current public health crisis, we want to ensure sport and physical activity is integral when students go back to college.”
Vince Mayne, Chief Executive Officer, British Universities & Colleges Sport, said: "Students today face uncertainty around their return to university life due to the impact of COVID-19. The British Active Student Survey shows the all-round benefits of sport and physical activity.
“The findings from this report show the importance of sport and physical activity; demonstrating a clear association between the levels and type of physical activity with feelings of personal and mental wellbeing, social inclusion and employability perception.
“There is still more to do to get students active, but the British Active Student Survey provides the understanding required to work towards this goal.”
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[i] The surveys were carried out via an online survey between 12 November 2019 and 31 January 2020. In further education, 7,169 students from 107 institutions responded. In higher education, 9,013 Students from 101 institutions responded.
[ii] Active HE students had higher ‘Mental Wellbeing’ levels of 21.8 out of 35 compared to 20.6 for inactive HE students. Active FE students had a higher ‘Mental Wellbeing’ score of 21.6 out of 35 compared to 20.6 from inactive FE students.
[iii] Active HE students had higher ‘Life Satisfaction’ levels of 6.9 out of 10 compared to 6.3 for inactive HE students. Active FE students had a higher ‘Life Satisfaction’ score of 6.3 out of 10 compared to 5.7 from inactive FE students.
[iv] % answering ‘never’ or ‘rarely’ to ‘I feel to being ‘Left out’—40% of active HE student and 34% of inactive HE student. 48% for active FE students and 46% for inactive FE students.
[v] % answering ‘rarely’ or ‘hardly ever to feeling lonely during the past week—27% of active HE students did not feel lonely compared to 22% of inactive students. 35% of active FE students did not feel lonely compared to 33% of inactive FE students.
[vi] 61% of active HE students were confident but only 51% of inactive HE students were confident. 51% of active FE students were confident but only 43% of inactive FE students were confident of finding employment.
- 76.4% of HE students and 64.8% of FE students are classified as being active[i]
- There has been an increase in activity levels among students since the last study
- Students with higher physical activity were at increased odds of having higher mental[ii] and personal[iii] wellbeing
- More active students felt more socially included[iv]
- Students being more active is linked to a feeling less lonely[v]
- More active students had higher confidence in finding employment 6 months after study[vi]
The report calls for college and university students to be given more support to increase their physical activity levels, and that this is a responsibility that is shared between the educational institutions, policy makers and welfare organisations.
Students indicated that the biggest motivator to take part in physical activity was to look after their health. The largest barrier in participation was being too busy with studies.
However, students who participated in physical activity did not say that it interfered with their studies. Other barriers to participation included clubs being too expensive to join or that students perceived activities as being unwelcoming.
The data collected and presented within this report was collected before the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and restrictions subsequently put in place. The findings have been presented as such and are not reflective of any changes that may have occurred due to the pandemic and restrictions.
Dr Matthew Wade, ukactive Head of Research, said: “We are now in the fourth year of collecting data on the association between students' physical activity levels and types of activity, which shows the benefits of being active while studying.
“The results show a positive impact on mental and personal wellbeing, social inclusion, social trust, a reduction in loneliness, and improved perceptions of high academic attainment and employability prospects.
“Providing activity opportunities can help students with their studies and form great fitness habits for the rest of their lives.
"Students face a challenging time due to COVID-19, which may have implications for the resumption of further and higher education physical activity, so we are calling on educational institutions to make sure physical activity will be a priority when students do return.”
Dean Hardman, AoC Director of Sport and Student Experience, said: “The British Active Students Survey provides vital insight into how young people perceive sport and physical activity and provides important evidence on which to base our strategic decisions.
"The results highlight once again the many positive long-term benefits on students' physical and mental health from being active and engaging in sport and physical activity.
“In the aftermath of the current public health crisis, we want to ensure sport and physical activity is integral when students go back to college.”
Vince Mayne, Chief Executive Officer, British Universities & Colleges Sport, said: "Students today face uncertainty around their return to university life due to the impact of COVID-19. The British Active Student Survey shows the all-round benefits of sport and physical activity.
“The findings from this report show the importance of sport and physical activity; demonstrating a clear association between the levels and type of physical activity with feelings of personal and mental wellbeing, social inclusion and employability perception.
“There is still more to do to get students active, but the British Active Student Survey provides the understanding required to work towards this goal.”
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[i] The surveys were carried out via an online survey between 12 November 2019 and 31 January 2020. In further education, 7,169 students from 107 institutions responded. In higher education, 9,013 Students from 101 institutions responded.
[ii] Active HE students had higher ‘Mental Wellbeing’ levels of 21.8 out of 35 compared to 20.6 for inactive HE students. Active FE students had a higher ‘Mental Wellbeing’ score of 21.6 out of 35 compared to 20.6 from inactive FE students.
[iii] Active HE students had higher ‘Life Satisfaction’ levels of 6.9 out of 10 compared to 6.3 for inactive HE students. Active FE students had a higher ‘Life Satisfaction’ score of 6.3 out of 10 compared to 5.7 from inactive FE students.
[iv] % answering ‘never’ or ‘rarely’ to ‘I feel to being ‘Left out’—40% of active HE student and 34% of inactive HE student. 48% for active FE students and 46% for inactive FE students.
[v] % answering ‘rarely’ or ‘hardly ever to feeling lonely during the past week—27% of active HE students did not feel lonely compared to 22% of inactive students. 35% of active FE students did not feel lonely compared to 33% of inactive FE students.
[vi] 61% of active HE students were confident but only 51% of inactive HE students were confident. 51% of active FE students were confident but only 43% of inactive FE students were confident of finding employment.