Flexibility Exercise as a Small First Step for Exercise Habits and Well-Being: A Cross-Sectional Study of Japanese University Students

This study aimed to examine the differences in accessibility among flexibility exercise (FE), aerobic exercise (AE), and resistance training (RT). It also determined the associations between FE participation and well-being of university students. A total of 345 Japanese university freshmen (mean age: 18.89 ± 1.31 years; 228 females, 66%) participated in this cross-sectional study conducted between June 2024 and December 2024. The measurements included exercise participation, signs of tension and fatigue, breakfast skipping, subjective sleep quality, screentime, eye fatigue, depression, academic motivation, class motivation, class attendance, and written examination score (exercise science). The accessibility in FE was significantly higher than that in RT (p < 0.001) and AE (p < 0.001). FE participation was positively associated with RT participation (β = 0.26, p < 0.001) and with reduced perceived troublesomeness of exercise (β = -0.15, p = 0.003), which in turn was associated with increased AE participation (β = -0.25, p < 0.001). FE participation was associated with broader lifestyle elements, mental and physical health, and academic performance. FE participation could be associated with taking a small first step toward exercise participation and well-being among university students.