Effects of Physical Activity on Substance Use Among College Students‪.‬

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between recreational physical activity and substance use among college students. Students ranging in age from 18 to 23 (n=2,436), from the 1995 National College Health Risk Behavior Survey, were selected for analyses. Recreational physical activity was assessed by the following question: "On how many days did you exercise or participate in sports activity for at least 20 minutes?" Students engaging in 12 substance use behaviors were assessed according to three levels of physical activity (none, low-activity, high-activity). Low-activity was defined as one to two days of activity per seven days; high-activity was defined as three or more days of physical activity per seven days. The substances included in the analysis were alcohol, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, crack, inhalants, steroids, and heroin. The results of this study found that recreational physical activity was associated with increased levels of alcohol use and binge drinking, but lower rates of cigarette use among males and females. No practical significance was found for any illegal substance. As such, these findings do no t suggest the usefulness of physical activity as a tool for intervening in the substance use behavior of college students. **********