The Impact of Physical Activity Intensity on Multidimensional Physical Fitness in College Students
Abstract
Insufficient physical activity and low exercise intensity remain persistent threats to student health during the transition to adulthood, yet evidence from Southeast Asian universities linking activity intensity to multidimensional physical fitness is limited. This study examined the correlation between physical activity intensity and physical fitness among university students at Universitas Negeri Makassar, Indonesia. A quantitative cross-sectional correlational design was used. Thirty-four students aged 18–22 years completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form, while physical fitness was assessed through a standardized battery comprising the 20-m shuttle run to estimate VO₂max, handgrip dynamometry, sit-and-reach flexibility, and body mass index (BMI). Descriptive statistics summarized activity and fitness profiles, and Pearson’s product-moment correlation was used to test associations between MET-minutes/week and each fitness component. The mean total physical activity was 2,746 ± 1,120 MET-min/week; 11.8% of participants were low active, 55.9% were moderately active, and 32.3% were highly active. Higher activity intensity was significantly associated with better aerobic capacity (r = .614, p = .001), greater handgrip strength (r = .498, p = .004), better flexibility (r = .362, p = .034), and lower BMI (r = −.421, p = .019). The strongest relationship was observed for VO₂max, indicating that intensity-sensitive activity is particularly important for cardiorespiratory fitness. The study's originality lies in the integration of validated self-reported intensity assessments with objective, multidimensional fitness metrics in an Indonesian university setting. The findings show that being active alone is insufficient; activity must reach adequate intensity to support meaningful fitness adaptation. These results offer actionable implications for curriculum design, campus wellness initiatives, and quality physical education in higher education.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Butsiarah Butsiarah, Andi Saiful Alimsyah, Bahrul Alim (Author)
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