SOCIO-CULTURAL DETERMINANTS OF EXERCISE COMPLIANCE AMONG ACADEMIC AND NON-ACADEMIC STAFF OF UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background to the Study

Health is wealth, and everybody desires good healthy living. It is essential for everybody to attain a reasonable level of health, and one of the ways through which this could be achieved is regular physical activity. Sports and Exercise Psychologists continue to explore the factors which motivate persons to exercise at all levels which results in increased physical and psychological health. Exercise has been reported as a sure route to physical fitness and a significant contributor of good health status (OBrien, 2005; Adeogun & Dansu, 2006).

According to Biddle, Fox and Boutcher (2000), exercise has more to contribute to human happiness, posture, mood, decreased anxiety, depression, and elevated level of self-esteem. Similarly, Fox (2000) maintains that exercise really has the potential to be used in the prevention of some diseases and to increase the positive enjoyment of life that is embedded into good healthy living. Regular exercise has been linked to longevity and individual who remain physically active or physically fit during middle older ages live longer than their sedentary counterparts (Karmisholt & Gotzche, 2005), and also recommended for secondary prevention of several diseases (Okuneye, 2002). In their research, Benzer, Adams and Whistler (1999) showed that active lifestyle is a vital tool to psychological, mental, social, intellectual and spiritual wellness. All these are pointers to the importance of physical activity on human health.

Physical activity is any body movement carried out by the skeletal muscles refers to energy.On the other hand, exercise is a planned, structured, repetitive movement of the bodydesigned specifically to improve or maintain physical fitness (Bulugbe & Oloyede, 2007).

According to Okuneye (2002), physical activity behaviour of people has been tremendously altered due to modernization or development in the society. Despite the overwhelming evidence of the positive effect of fitness exercise, well mentioned individuals still drop out of exercise programmes at an alarming rate of 40% to 60% (Dishman, 1986). OBrein (2005) reported that some adults are afraid that fitness exercise would be too strenuous, or that physical activity could be harmful to them. Similarly Center for Disease Control, CDC (1999) reported that more than 60% of adults do not exercise regularly and 25% of them were not active at all. This type of survey gives credence to the attitude of people toward physical activity and fitness exercise.

Presently, sub-Sahara Africa is witnessing rapid epidemiological transition and plagued with high prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases such as obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes and some cancers (BeLue et al, 2009) . Evidence from epidemiological studies have however, shown that participation in Physical Activity as a form of health behaviour offers a recognizable health benefits in preventing chronic non-communicable diseases (WHO, 2010). Owing to enormous benefits of Physical Activity, many health organizations have advocated moderate to high intensity Physical Activity (Center for Disease Control, 2011). Despite these recommendations, there is substantial evidence that Physical Activity rates decline consistently among adults (Pan, 2009).

Data on the prevalence of Physical Activity in African varied widely from country to country, for instance, the prevalence of physical inactivity was reported to be 49.1% and 44.7% in Swaziland and South Africa respectively. Countries such as Mozambique and Malawi in southeastern Africa, had the highest reported prevalence of physical activity (around 95%)  (Gutholdet at, 2011). (Guthold et al, further reported that two countries in West African sub-region, Mali and Mauritania, having prevalence of about 50%. The reasons for these differences were not identified. However, recent data from northern Nigeria in a study by Oyeyemi et al, (2013)reported a prevalence rate of 68% among adults and factors such as social, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics were identified as determinants of physical activity participation.

Physical activity as a form of health behaviour may be influenced by a gamut of factors not limited to demographic, socio-cultural, environmental, socio-economic and psychosocial variables. These factors are not mutually exclusive but inter-related in their influences on health behaviour (Westerstahl et al, 2005). The Social Cognitive Theory suggests that knowledge of health risks and benefits are prerequisite to change, additional self-influences are necessary for change to occur (Bandura, 2004). Beliefs regarding personal efficacy are among some of these influences which play a central role in health behaviour.

According to Adeniyi et al, (2012)  the Social Cognitive Theory provides a framework that simultaneously addresses self-efficacy, perceived barriers, outcome expectancies and self-regulatory behaviours as related to physical activity participation, however factor such as Socio-Economic Status has been reported to contribute to lifestyle and health behaviour (Abegunde et al, 2007). Socio-Economic Status may affect knowledge of benefit and health-promoting behaviours (Morenoff et al, 2007), and it is also thought to be a mediator of psychosocial determinants of physical activity (Lindstrom et al, 2001).

Sedentary behaviour has been identified as one of the leading preventable causes of death and an inverse linear relationship exist between volume of physical activity behaviour and all-cause mortality. Moreover, participation in regular physical activity decreases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes mellitus, obesity, reduces blood glucose levels and improve overall health and wellbeing. Despite the numerous benefits of physical activity and the recent attention to specific guidelines, only few adults and adolescents engage in regular leisure time physical activity and fitness exercise. Lack of exercise and generally poor physical fitness is thought to be the main key reasons for the surge of diseases like heart failure, type II diabetes because inactivity and obesity promote insulin resistance and other factors that trigger other diseases. It is extremely important for a person to develop an exercise program that promotes physical fitness, in order to stay healthy and be physically active.

Given the many benefits of physical activity and the low prevalence rates, it is imperative that intervention be designed that effectively promote the adoption and maintenance of active lifestyle in large number of people. Certain complications associated with some illnesses will also dictate what type of exercise program an individual can partake. Activities like weightlifting, jogging or high impact aerobics can possibly pose a risk for people with diabetes retinopathy due to the risk for further blood vessel damage and possible retinal detachment. It is imperative to design or have a physical fitness program that will fit the specific needs of every individual.

Exercise is crucial to fitness. Keeping fit helps in the prevention of diseases and conditions such as diabetes, coronary related diseases, (Awopetu, 2007, Otinwa 2010) musculo-skeletal problems (Ajala, 2005), state anxiety, depression, insomnia (Adeyeye 2007, Ikulayo, 2007). Ajala (2005) buttressed this assertion that exercise is more effective as preventive measure against diseases and illnesses if started at a very young age. He however, explained further that there is a very strong argument in favour of beginning to exercise at any age. It is imperative to state that many people find it easier to start an exercise programme than to stick with it (Berger, Pargman and Weinberg, 2002). Exercisers often have lapses in trying to adhere to exercise programmes. This gives rise to the concept of exercise adherence which implies sticking or keeping tenaciously to a programmed physical exercise.

Emiola (2008), defined exercise as physical activity that is planned, structured, repetitive and purposive with the objective of improving or maintaining physical fitness. Emiola pointed out that the positive effects of exercise on all major systems of the body, both the long-term and the short-term effects are no longer secrets. However, many of our citizens either through ignorance or their die-hard inactive habits, have failed to take advantage of the very inexpensive road to a healthy and fit life provided by exercise. It is note-worthy to point out that exercise and sporting activities like other human activities as opined by Adeyeye and Otinwa (2009), require certain variables to synchronise positively towards the realization of the set goal(s); that is, success in exercise and sports performance depend on certain physical and psycho-social constructs among which, if one or more is (are) missing, or not properly harnessed, the exerciser or athlete may find his or her desired or anticipated success, elusive.

While a socio-cultural perspective is a relatively recent conceptual change in health and physical education, it can be seen to have emerged out of curriculum critique and dissatisfaction that began as early as the 1980s and gathered momentum throughout the 1990s. As a perspective through which to interpret physical education content and issues, it has important implications both for the work of physical education teachers and the general public. Socio-cultural perspective requires consideration of the social and cultural environments and circumstance in which individual acts.

Drawing on this critical tradition, a socio-cultural perspective is a way of examining health and physical activity issues and a perspective through which to read or understand HPE content.

Generally, the social elements of a socio-cultural perspective are concerned with power and social relations, political and economic factors, and dominant and subordinate groups. The cultural aspect refers to shared ways of thinking and acting (ideas, values, beliefs, behaviours), which differ from one culture to another and even within cultures.

Unfortunately, there is a dearth of information on factors influencing socio-cultural participation across various populations in Sub-Sahara Africa. Hence, this study assessed socio-cultural determinants of exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff of university of Lagos.

1.2      Statement of the Problem    

Adeogun and Konwea (2009) lamented that public servant by the nature of their jobs leaves sedentary lifestyles. According to Akindutire and Adegoyega (2012), lack of physical activity compliance is one of the leading causes of major non communicable diseases, which contribute to the high rise of cardiovascular diseases and deaths.

Today, exercise compliance is no longer part of daily life. Employees of higher institution in Nigeria need to participate in physical activity more than ever before owing to the policy that all higher institutions seeking government approval should have modern sporting facilities. It also included that a day be set aside for sports to enable staff and students participate in physical activity because of its tremendous importance to individual and community development.

This thrust have been eroded in workplaces as automobiles have replaced walking, elevators have taken the place of stairs, while washing machines have replaced manual laundry. It is against these backdrops that the need to research into the impact of socio-cultural determinants of exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff of University of Lagos emerged.

1.3   Purpose of the Study

The overall aim of this study is to ascertain socio-cultural determinants of exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff of University of Lagos.

Based on the above, the major purpose of this study is to examine the:

1. Influence of socioeconomic status on exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff;
2. Influence of religion on exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff;
3. Influence of nature of job on exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff.
4. Influence of family on exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff;
5. Influence of environmental factors on exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff;
6. Influence of gender on exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff.

1.4     Research Questions

In order to achieve the above purpose of the study, the following research questions are proposed to guide the study.

1. Will social factors determine exercise compliance among academic and non academic staff of University of Lagos?
2. Will religion determine exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff?
3. Will nature of job determine exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff?
4. Will the family determine exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff?
5. Will environmental factors determine exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff?
6. Will gender determine exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff?

1.5    Research Hypotheses

The following hypotheses will be tested in this study.

1. Socio-economic status will not significantly influence exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff of University of Lagos.
2. Religion will not significantly influence exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff of University of Lagos;
3. Job description will not significantly influence exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff;
4. Family pressure will not significantly influence exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff;
5. Environmental factors will not significantly influence exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff;
6. Gender will not significantly influence exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff.

1.6   Scope of Study

The study examines socio-cultural determinant of exercise compliance among academic and non-academic staff of University of Lagos

Limitation of the Study

The study is limited to the all the 61 departments in the ten faculties and College of Medicine in University of Lagos.

1.7    Significance of the Study

This research would provide useful information for the education of both undergraduate and postgraduate students in Nigerian Universities, teachers, lectures, school administrators, sports psychologist, counselors, physical therapist and librarians as well as parents, policy makers and others who may need information in understanding the indispensible physical activity and its overall benefits.

1.8       Definition of Terms

Socio-economic Status: Socio-economic status is an economic and sociological combined total measure of a person’s work experience and of an individual’s or family’s economic and social position in relation to others, based on income, education, and occupation.

Physical Activity: Physical activity is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness.

Religion: A religion is an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence.

Family: A family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity (by recognized birth), affinity (by marriage), or co-residence and/or shared consumption.

Exercise: This is an activity requiring physical effort, carried out to sustain or improve health and fitness.

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