A Cross-Cultural Comparison of College Students’ Physical Activity in Korea and Malaysia using the Transtheoretical Model

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Youngho Kim ^* and Garry Kuan ^**/***

^(*) Department of Sport Science, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul, South Korea
^(**) Exercise and Sports Science Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia
^(***) Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University, London, United Kingdom

Citation

Kim, Y., Kuan, G. (2022). A Cross-Cultural Comparison of College Students’ Physical Activity in Korea and Malaysia using the Transtheoretical Model. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 53(2), 119-133. doi:10.7352/IJSP.2022.53.119

Abstract

The present study aimed to compare the levels of physical activity among Korean and Malaysian university students and their associated psychosocial vari- ables. A total of 574 Korean university students from Seoul National University of Science and Technology, South Korea and 562 Malaysian university students from the Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia volunteered for the study. Before analyzing the main purposes of the study, measurement invariance between the Korean and Malaysian TTM measures was identified. The results showed that the levels of physical activity by nationality and gender were significantly different. In addition, all of the transtheoretical model (TTM) constructs were significantly different across the various stages of physical activity, excluding the cognitive processes of change. The findings provide fundamental knowledge that may be useful in the development of generic physical activity interventions that meet the needs of a cul- turally diverse population.

Keywords: Transtheoretical Model; Cross-Cultural; Korean; Malaysian; Physi- cal Activity

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