How do physical activity, physical self-concept and sleep habits influence Spanish university students according to their body mass index?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v83.119605

Keywords:

health, profiles, sleep quality, vigorous physical activity, weight

Abstract

Introduction: University students are exposed to lifestyle changes that may negatively affect their physical and psychological health.

Objectives: 1) To identify the levels of body mass index, vigorous physical activity, physical self-concept, and sleep quality among Spanish university students; 2) To analyse the relationships between body mass index and vigorous physical activity, physical self-concept, and sleep quality among university students; 3) To compare the profiles of healthy habits among university students according to body mass index categories.

Methodology: The cross-sectional study involved a representative sample of Spanish university students (mean age = 28.12 ± 10.36 years) who responded to the IPAQ-SF, AF-5, and PSQI questionnaires.

Results: The adjustment of the theoretical model proposed to explain the relationships between the variables in the study was: CFI = 0.915, NFI = 0.901, IFI = 0.920 and RMSEA = 0.088. Students can be classified according to levels of vigorous physical activity, physical self-concept, sleep quality, and age according to the body mass index categories (MANOVA: Pillai's trace = 0.119; p = 0.007; β = 1; η²p = 0.04).

Discussion: More than 25% of the participants were classified as overweight or obese. This percentage is higher than those found in previous studies.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the multidimensional relationship between physical, behavioural, and psychological health factors in university students. Higher body mass index levels are associated with poorer sleep quality and lower physical self-concept, whereas vigorous physical activity appears to play a protective role.

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30-05-2026

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Original Research Article

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Sanz-Martín, D., Ubago-Jiménez, J. L., Alonso-Vargas, J. M., & Melguizo-Ibáñez, E. (2026). How do physical activity, physical self-concept and sleep habits influence Spanish university students according to their body mass index?. Retos, 83, 103-119. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v83.119605