PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND EXERCISE STAGES OF CHANGE LEVELS OF MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES OF MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

BY

CEVDET CENGİZ

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS

JUNE 2007

Approval of the Graduate School of Social Sciences ________________________________ Prof. Dr. Sencer Ayata Director

I certify that this thesis satisfies all the requirements as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science. ________________________________ Prof. Dr. Feza Korkusuz Head of Department

This is to certify that we have read this thesis and that in our opinion it is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science in Physical Education and Sports.

_______________________________ Assist. Prof. Dr. M. Levent İNCE Supervisor

Examining Committee Members Assoc. Prof. Dr. Settar Koçak

(METU, PES)

_______________________

Assist. Prof. Dr. Sadettin Kirazcı

(METU, PES)

_______________________

Assist. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Kin İşler

(Başkent, SBB)

_______________________

Assist. Prof. Dr. Nazan Koşar

(Hacettepe, SBTYO)_____________________

Assist. Prof. Dr. M. Levent İnce

(METU, PES)

______________________

I hereby declare that all information in this document has been obtained and presented in accordance with academic rules and ethical conduct. I also declare that, as required by these rules and conduct, I have fully cited and referenced all material and results that are not original to this work.

Name, Surname: Cevdet Cengiz Signature:

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ABSTRACT

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND EXERCISE STAGES OF CHANGE LEVELS OF MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Cengiz, Cevdet M. S., Department of Physical Education and Sports Supervisor: Assist. Prof. Dr. M. Levent İnce

June 2007, 70 pages

The purposes of this study were to examine (a) physical activity participation levels, (b) exercise stages of change levels and (c) physical activity preferences of the Middle East Technical University undergraduate students with respect to gender, residence and faculty. Participants were 953 students from 5 different faculties (496 male, and 547 female). For the data collection, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Physical Activity Stages of Change Questionnaire, and Physical Activity Preferences Questionnaire were used. Descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, median, percentage), and nonparametric statistical methods (Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Pearson chi-square test) were used for the data analysis. According to the IPAQ, male students were more physically active than female counterparts. Students who were living in campus had higher physical activity levels, and faculty of architecture students were more sedentary compared to iv

other faculty students (p