Intention to be Physically Active and Social Physique Anxiety among Female Undergraduates in Enugu State, Nigeria: A Well-being Perspective

Physical inactivity among female undergraduates in Nigeria poses significant public health and wellbeing con- cerns. Despite the known benefits of regular physical activity, participation rates remain low, often influenced by psychological and sociocultural factors. One such factor is Social Physique Anxiety (SPA). The study assessed the intention to be physically active and social physique anxiety among female undergraduates in Enugu State Nigeria, from a well-being perspective. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 402 female undergraduates between July and August 2024 across the public universities in Enugu State, Nigeria. Social phy- sique anxiety was measured with the Social Physique Anxiety scale-7 (SPAS-7), while intention to be physically ac- tive was measured using a 4-item questionnaire. Descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, mean, and stan- dard deviation were used to describe the data pattern. Pearson correlation and multiple regressions were used to test relationships and the predictive power of the study variables on SPA. Findings revealed that SPA is low, while intention to be physically active is high among female undergraduates. Intention to be physically active, age, and academic level did not significantly predict SPA, but Body Mass Index (BMI) strongly and significantly predicted SPA among female undergraduates. The findings highlight the need to focus on physical self-percep- tion and body composition, rather than solely promoting physical activity intentions to effectively reduce SPA in female undergraduates. However, health and wellness programmes in universities should prioritize body image awareness and provide support for healthy weight management, as BMI appears to be a critical factor influencing body-related anxiety among female undergraduates.