Exercise Behaviors and Resource Use Among Graduate Students at a Canadian University: A Cross-sectional Study

Objective: Participation in regular exercise among post-secondary students is often low. Our cross-sectional study aimed to assess exercise levels, perceived barriers/motivators to exercise, and knowledge and use of exercise resources in graduate students.

Participants: We recruited graduate students across various disciplines at a large Canadian university.

Methods: Participants ( = 540) completed an anonymous mixed methods online survey.

Results: Approximately 11% of participants reported not participating in any form of weekly exercise, and only 9.4% met the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines. The most common barrier and motivator to exercise was time commitment and improving physical health, respectively. Some participants were aware of available exercise services but most did not use them. Suggestions for improving services included having graduate-dedicated exercise space and resources.

Conclusions: Low exercise participation among graduate students may be due to a lack of education of available resources or a lack of existing resources that meet their specific needs.