Background: Physical inactivity is a global public health concern and particularly prevalent among academic professionals whose roles are predominantly sedentary. Aim: This study assessed the physical activity levels among the academic staff at Delta State University, Abraka. Materials and Methods: A sample of 300 academic staff members was selected using stratified random sampling. The Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity questionnaire was used for data collection. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, employing Chi-square tests, ANOVA, and independent samples t-tests. Results: 43.3% of respondents were sedentary, 30.0% were under-active light, 18.3% were under-active moderate, and only 8.3% achieved the RAPA-defined aerobic “active” category. Based on the composite WHO operational definition (aerobic, strength, and flexibility), 37.3% met recommended physical activity guidelines, a proportion significantly lower than the 50% benchmark (z = −4.63, p < 0.001). Physical activity declined significantly with age (F = 8.76, p < 0.001), and differed across academic rank (F = 6.89, p < 0.001), with Professors recording the lowest mean score (M = 2.7) and Lecturer II staff the highest (M = 4.4). Males reported significantly higher mean activity scores than females (t = 3.21, p = 0.001), although sex was not an independent predictor after multivariable adjustment (p = 0.260). Conclusion: Majority of the academic staff do not meet recommended physical activity levels, with notable demographic disparities. Recommendation: The study highlights the urgent need for institution-led wellness interventions tailored to age, gender, and job role to foster a more active and healthier academic workforce.
| Published in | Science Research (Volume 14, Issue 2) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.sr.20261402.13 |
| Page(s) | 42-55 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Physical Activity, Academic Staff, Sedentary, Activity Level
RAPA Component | Score/Response Options | Classification Category | Operational Definition Used in This Study |
|---|---|---|---|
RAPA-1 (Aerobic) | 1-2 | Sedentary | Little or no moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity |
RAPA-1 (Aerobic) | 3 | Under-active Light | Some light activity but not regular moderate activity |
RAPA-1 (Aerobic) | 4-5 | Under-active Moderate | Some moderate activity but not meeting the “active” threshold |
RAPA-1 (Aerobic) | 6-7 | Active | Regular moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity (meets RAPA aerobic active threshold) |
RAPA-2 (Strength) | Yes / No | Strength activity participation | “Yes” if strength/resistance activity is performed at least once weekly |
RAPA-2 (Flexibility) | Yes / No | Flexibility activity participation | “Yes” if stretching/yoga/mobility activity is performed at least once weekly |
Age Group | Sedentary (1-2) | Under-active Light (3) | Under-active Moderate (4-5) | Active (6-7) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
30–39 | 25 (29.4%) | 30 (35.3%) | 20 (23.5%) | 10 (11.8%) | 85 |
40–49 | 30 (39.5%) | 25 (32.9%) | 15 (19.7%) | 6 (7.9%) | 76 |
50–59 | 35 (47.9%) | 20 (27.4%) | 12 (16.4%) | 6 (8.2%) | 73 |
60–65 | 40 (60.6%) | 15 (22.7%) | 8 (12.1%) | 3 (4.5%) | 66 |
Sex | |||||
Male | 60 (40.5%) | 50 (33.8%) | 25 (16.9%) | 13 (8.8%) | 148 |
Female | 70 (46.1%) | 40 (26.3%) | 30 (19.7%) | 12 (7.9%) | 152 |
Rank | |||||
Lecturer II | 20 (31.3%) | 25 (39.1%) | 12 (18.8%) | 7 (10.9%) | 64 |
Lecturer I | 25 (37.3%) | 20 (29.9%) | 15 (22.4%) | 7 (10.4%) | 67 |
Senior Lecturer | 35 (41.2%) | 25 (29.4%) | 18 (21.2%) | 7 (8.2%) | 85 |
Associate Prof | 30 (55.6%) | 10 (18.5%) | 10 (18.5%) | 4 (7.4%) | 54 |
Professor | 20 (66.7%) | 5 (16.7%) | 3 (10.0%) | 2 (6.7%) | 30 |
Total | 130 (43.3%) | 90 (30.0%) | 55 (18.3%) | 25 (8.3%) | 300 |
Variable | Observed n (%) | Test Proportion | z-value | 95% CI | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Met WHO Guidelines | 112 (37.3%) | 50% | -4.63 | 31.8% - 42.8% | <0.001*** |
Did Not Meet WHO Guidelines | 188 (62.7%) |
Category | Observed% | Test% | z-value | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sedentary + Under-active | 91.6% | 50% | 14.93 | <0.001*** |
Predictor | Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) | 95% CI | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
Age 30-39 vs 60-65 | 2.41 | 1.32 - 4.39 | 0.004** |
Age 40-49 vs 60-65 | 1.76 | 0.96 - 3.21 | 0.069 |
Age 50-59 vs 60-65 | 1.32 | 0.71 - 2.45 | 0.381 |
Lecturer II vs Professor | 2.88 | 1.45 - 5.71 | 0.002** |
Lecturer I vs Professor | 2.14 | 1.09 - 4.21 | 0.026* |
Senior Lecturer vs Professor | 1.59 | 0.83 - 3.05 | 0.160 |
Male vs Female | 1.29 | 0.82 - 2.03 | 0.260 |
Age Group | M (SD) | F | P | Post-hoc (Tukey) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
30-39 | 4.2(1.7) | 8.76 | <0.001*** | 30-39 > all older groups |
40-49 | 3.5(1.6) | |||
50-59 | 3.1(1.5) | |||
60-65 | 2.8(1.3) |
Rank | M (SD) | F | P | Post-hoc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lecturer II | 4.4(1.9) | 6.89 | <0.001*** | LII > all higher ranks |
Lecturer I | 4.1(1.8) | |||
Senior Lecturer | 3.6(1.7) | |||
Associate Prof | 3.0(1.4) | |||
Professor | 2.7(1.2) |
Sex | M (SD) | T | P | Cohen's d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Male | 3.8(1.9) | 3.21 | 0.001** | 0.37 |
Female | 3.1(1.7) |
Demographic | χ² | df | p-value | Cramer's V |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Age Group | 28.74 | 9 | 0.001** | 0.18 |
Sex | 4.32 | 3 | 0.229 | 0.12 |
Academic Rank | 32.18 | 12 | 0.001** | 0.23 |
Category | Observed% | Test% | z-score | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sedentary+Under-active | 91.6% | 50% | 14.93 | <0.001*** |
PA | Physical Activity |
RAPA | Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity |
WHO | World Health Organization |
SCT | Social Cognitive Theory |
ANOVA | Analysis of Variance |
SPSS | Statistical Package for Social Sciences |
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APA Style
Godsday, O. U., Kelly, E. O., Ojimba, A. O., Jephtah, N., Ephraim, C., et al. (2026). Physical Activity Level Amongst the Academic Staffs in Delta State University Abraka. Science Research, 14(2), 42-55. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sr.20261402.13
ACS Style
Godsday, O. U.; Kelly, E. O.; Ojimba, A. O.; Jephtah, N.; Ephraim, C., et al. Physical Activity Level Amongst the Academic Staffs in Delta State University Abraka. Sci. Res. 2026, 14(2), 42-55. doi: 10.11648/j.sr.20261402.13
@article{10.11648/j.sr.20261402.13,
author = {Ogbutor Udoji Godsday and Efienemokwu Onyeisi Kelly and Anastacia Okwudili Ojimba and Nwose Jephtah and Chukwuemeka Ephraim and Isaac Precious and Ogbutor Emeke Godson and Okri Favour Eloho and Kienne Osetare Precious and Kosin Ufoma Doris and Ijeh Chukwunonso Basil},
title = {Physical Activity Level Amongst the Academic Staffs in Delta State University Abraka},
journal = {Science Research},
volume = {14},
number = {2},
pages = {42-55},
doi = {10.11648/j.sr.20261402.13},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sr.20261402.13},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sr.20261402.13},
abstract = {Background: Physical inactivity is a global public health concern and particularly prevalent among academic professionals whose roles are predominantly sedentary. Aim: This study assessed the physical activity levels among the academic staff at Delta State University, Abraka. Materials and Methods: A sample of 300 academic staff members was selected using stratified random sampling. The Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity questionnaire was used for data collection. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, employing Chi-square tests, ANOVA, and independent samples t-tests. Results: 43.3% of respondents were sedentary, 30.0% were under-active light, 18.3% were under-active moderate, and only 8.3% achieved the RAPA-defined aerobic “active” category. Based on the composite WHO operational definition (aerobic, strength, and flexibility), 37.3% met recommended physical activity guidelines, a proportion significantly lower than the 50% benchmark (z = −4.63, p < 0.001). Physical activity declined significantly with age (F = 8.76, p < 0.001), and differed across academic rank (F = 6.89, p < 0.001), with Professors recording the lowest mean score (M = 2.7) and Lecturer II staff the highest (M = 4.4). Males reported significantly higher mean activity scores than females (t = 3.21, p = 0.001), although sex was not an independent predictor after multivariable adjustment (p = 0.260). Conclusion: Majority of the academic staff do not meet recommended physical activity levels, with notable demographic disparities. Recommendation: The study highlights the urgent need for institution-led wellness interventions tailored to age, gender, and job role to foster a more active and healthier academic workforce.},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Physical Activity Level Amongst the Academic Staffs in Delta State University Abraka AU - Ogbutor Udoji Godsday AU - Efienemokwu Onyeisi Kelly AU - Anastacia Okwudili Ojimba AU - Nwose Jephtah AU - Chukwuemeka Ephraim AU - Isaac Precious AU - Ogbutor Emeke Godson AU - Okri Favour Eloho AU - Kienne Osetare Precious AU - Kosin Ufoma Doris AU - Ijeh Chukwunonso Basil Y1 - 2026/03/19 PY - 2026 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sr.20261402.13 DO - 10.11648/j.sr.20261402.13 T2 - Science Research JF - Science Research JO - Science Research SP - 42 EP - 55 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2329-0927 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sr.20261402.13 AB - Background: Physical inactivity is a global public health concern and particularly prevalent among academic professionals whose roles are predominantly sedentary. Aim: This study assessed the physical activity levels among the academic staff at Delta State University, Abraka. Materials and Methods: A sample of 300 academic staff members was selected using stratified random sampling. The Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity questionnaire was used for data collection. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, employing Chi-square tests, ANOVA, and independent samples t-tests. Results: 43.3% of respondents were sedentary, 30.0% were under-active light, 18.3% were under-active moderate, and only 8.3% achieved the RAPA-defined aerobic “active” category. Based on the composite WHO operational definition (aerobic, strength, and flexibility), 37.3% met recommended physical activity guidelines, a proportion significantly lower than the 50% benchmark (z = −4.63, p < 0.001). Physical activity declined significantly with age (F = 8.76, p < 0.001), and differed across academic rank (F = 6.89, p < 0.001), with Professors recording the lowest mean score (M = 2.7) and Lecturer II staff the highest (M = 4.4). Males reported significantly higher mean activity scores than females (t = 3.21, p = 0.001), although sex was not an independent predictor after multivariable adjustment (p = 0.260). Conclusion: Majority of the academic staff do not meet recommended physical activity levels, with notable demographic disparities. Recommendation: The study highlights the urgent need for institution-led wellness interventions tailored to age, gender, and job role to foster a more active and healthier academic workforce. VL - 14 IS - 2 ER -