Study on the Effects of A Heath Promoting Power Walking Program on the Sleep Quality of University Freshmen

• Main Authors: Chung-Fong Ho, 何忠鋒
• Other Authors: Song-Yuan Huang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/90569645572423814310

博士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 健康促進與衛生教育學系 === 100 === The propose of this study was to investigate whether a power-walking program can improve the sleep quality of university students. The sample included 835 freshmen attending a public university. The participants were recruited who possessed a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score of more than 5 and randomly divided them into two groups. A total of 93 subjects (44 in the experimental group and 49 in the control group) participated in this study. Those in the experimental group participated in 30-minute power-walking sessions three times a week for a total of eight weeks and also attended five, 30-minute health education programs. Training intensity was set at 65%-85% of the maximum heart rate of each individual. No intervention measures were implemented in the control group. Pre-test and post-test were conducted on each group, and one-way ANCOVA was used to process the data. The posttest results yielded the following conclusions: 1. Both the stress levels, depression scores of the experimental group were lower than those of the control group, while simultaneously showing better prospects for future growth. 2. The sleep patterns, eating habits, activity levels, quality of sleep environment, and internet usage patterns of the experimental group all surpassed those of the control group. 3. The subjective levels of sleep quality, length of sleep, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score of the experimental group all surpassed those of the control group. This study showed that after participating in the power walking program for eight weeks, targets of the study all demonstrated significant improvements in sleep patterns and quality of sleep. Based on the results of this research, it is recommended that the Ministry of Education establishes an exercise and sleep quality curriculum to promote better health for university students.