The effect of recreational physical exercise on depression and assertiveness levels of university students

Abstract

 The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the recreational physical exercise on depression and assertiveness levels of the university students who had never participated in regular physical exercise before. There were 15 male and 15 female totally 30 students in control group and 15 male and 15 female students in exercise group of research. The students in control group carried on their usual life during the research while the students in exercise group participated in a 8 week exercise program including folk dances and step for an hour 3 times a week. The data collecting materials were the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for depression scores, and the Rathus Assertiveness Inventory (RAI) for the scores of assertiveness. Both Inventories were applied to the control group for 2 times as first and last measurement (at first week before exercise and last week after exercise) and to the exercise group for 3 times as first, mid and last measurement (at first week before exercise, at eighth week after exercise, and last week after exercise). Mean, frequency, percent, standart deviation, t-test, ANOVA, and Tukey HSD Post Hoc tests scores were given in texts, figures, and tables. The results showed that participation in physical exercise in leisure affects the depression and assertiveness levels of students in both sex positively