Provision of Quality Physical Education to enhance the motive of Physical Activity and its underlying Behavior among university students

Background: Physical activity (PA) plays a crucial role in promoting good health and an active lifestyle among university students. Quality Physical Education (QPE) program is instrumental in achieving sustainability in PA. Motivation is a key factor in encouraging PA in students. However, motivation alone may not lead to inclusivity unless quality components are thoughtfully integrated into physical education (PE) programs. Aims: This study aimed to address three research questions: i) Can the motivation for PA participation be enhanced through the provision of high-quality PE programs in university settings? ii) Does the quality provision of PE contribute to promoting sustainable PA among adolescents? and iii) Is this carry-over process influenced by gender? Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled N = 610 university students, comprising 467 males and 143 females. Only students who had PE as a part of their coursework were included. These students participated in more than 27 different sports and had an average age of 20.76 years (SD = 3.47) and an average of 4.70 years (SD = 4.93) of athletic experience. To achieve the study's objectives, descriptive statistics (mean, SD), Pearson's correlation, and regression analysis were employed. Additionally, a 2 (Gender) by 2 (Type of Sport: Individual vs. Team) MANCOVA, with age as a covariate, was used to assess gender-based differences in the variables. Results: The study found that the factors demonstrated strong reliability and positive correlations between QPE and exercise needs satisfaction. However, these factors did not establish significant correlations with PA. Perceived competence for exercise needs satisfaction showed gender differences, with males scoring higher. Additionally, QPE did not exhibit significant gender-based differences. In terms of PA, males had higher mean scores compared to females. Conclusion: The provision of QPE was identified as a crucial determinant of exercise satisfaction competence among students. While QPE provision was adequate at the university level, it did not promote PA among females as anticipated.