The influence of eco-friendly sports on university students’ physical and mental well-being: a sustainability perspective

Background and Study Aim. In light of the growing global emphasis on sustainability, universities are uniquely positioned to embed eco-friendly practices within student life. Eco-friendly sports, which promote physical activity with minimal environmental impact, offer a dual benefit: fostering personal well-being and encouraging environmental responsibility. This study examines how university students’ perceptions of eco-friendly sports influence their participation and contribute to their physical and mental well-being within the framework of campus sustainability efforts. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 300 students from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Participants completed a validated online questionnaire assessing their perception of eco-friendly sports and their self-reported physical and mental well-being levels. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and simple linear regression were used to test the primary hypothesis. Interaction effects were assessed using moderated regression analyses, with gender as a moderator. Assumptions of normality, multicollinearity, and homoscedasticity were rigorously tested. Results. Perception of eco-friendly sports was positively and significantly associated with both physical (r = 0.744, p < .001) and mental well-being (r = 0.782, p < .001). Regression models indicated that perception strongly predicted both outcomes (R² = 0.554 for physical and R² = 0.612 for mental well-being). However, gender did not significantly moderate these relationships. Residual diagnostics confirmed that statistical assumptions were met. The results suggest that students who view eco-friendly sports favourably are more likely to report higher levels of overall well-being. This reinforces the dual benefit of such initiatives in health promotion and sustainable development. Conclusions. Positive perceptions of eco-friendly sports contribute meaningfully to student well-being regardless of gender. This highlights the potential of integrating sustainability-driven sports initiatives into university health promotion strategies.