Students’ physical well-being: Implications for physical education and health promotion
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53468/mifyr.2026.6.2.1Keywords:
Student well-being, Health promotion, Physical education, Inclusive educationAbstract
This study aims to examine how gender, sport participation, and regional background are related to university students’ physical well-being and provide implications for improving physical education programs. A total of 704 students participated in the study, including 92 males (13.1%) and 612 females (86.9%). Data were collected through standardized physical fitness tests, including a 50 m sprint (speed) and endurance assessment. Independent samples t-tests and one-way ANOVA were conducted using SPSS software to analyze group differences. The results revealed statistically significant gender differences in both speed (t(702) = −9.75, p < .001) and endurance (t(702) = −12.08, p < .001). Male students demonstrated significantly faster sprint performance, whereas female students showed higher endurance levels. No significant differences in speed were found across sport types (p = .382), suggesting that speed is a general physical fitness attribute. However, endurance varied partially across sport types, with dance students outperforming others in certain comparisons. Additionally, regional differences indicated that students from rural areas performed better in speed compared to those from urban environments. The findings highlight the importance of differentiated physical education curricula that consider gender, sport-specific characteristics, and lifestyle factors. These results provide evidence-based insights for improving physical education programs in higher education. Physical fitness is a key indicator of health and functional capacity, encompassing flexibility, muscular strength, endurance, and explosive power. Among university students, engagement in different sports may lead to distinct physiological adaptations due to sport-specific demands. Previous studies have shown that training type influences physical performance outcomes, particularly in strength-and power-related activities. However, limited research has compared multiple fitness components simultaneously across sport types, gender, and regional differences within a single population.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Tuul Suvd, Enkhsaikhan Gombojav, Maralgua Tuvshin, Munkhshur Enkhtuvshin
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