Online Communication Affecting the Decision to Exercise for Health of Youth in Mueang District, Udon Thani Province

Abstract

          This research aims to study attitudes towards exercise behavior for health and to examine online communication that influences the health-related exercise of youth in Mueang District, Udon Thani Province. The sample group consists of 400 youths aged between 15 and 24 years, selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed by calculating percentages, means, standard deviations, and testing for differences.

          The study results revealed that: 1) Regarding attitudes toward exercise behavior for health, the average score was at a high level. Most participants had the strongest attitude toward exercising to improve physical, mental, and intellectual fitness (x̄=4.02), followed by exercising to help reduce health problems (x̄=4.01), and exercising as a way to meet new people (x̄=3.98), in that order. 2) Online communication that influences decisions to exercise for health showed that online communication about exercise most effectively met individual needs (x̄=3.79), followed by online exercise communication being easily accessible (x̄=3.58), and online exercise communication being suitable for all age groups (x̄=3.47), in that order. Furthermore, when comparing different groups, the results indicated that age differences significantly affected attitudes toward exercise behavior for health at the 0.05 statistical level. Income differences also had a significant effect on both attitudes toward exercise behavior for health and online communication that influenced decisions to exercise for health at the 0.05 statistical level.