This study examined the relationships between psychosocial factors specifically psychological motivation and social support and physical activity levels among students at the Poly-Tech College (KPTM) Kuantan, a private tertiary institution in Malaysia. A cross-sectional correlational design was used, with (N = 242) students where (n = 88) male; (n = 154) female aged 18 to 24 years were recruited across five diploma programmes via stratified random sampling. The Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale – Malay version (PALMS-M), the Malay Version of the Social Support Scale for Exercise and Physical Environment, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) were administered electronically via Google Forms. The Pearson correlations were computed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26, with significance set at p ? .05. Among eight motivation subscales, mastery (r = .145, p = .024), physical condition (r = .187, p = .003), enjoyment (r = .190, p = .003), and psychological condition (r = .184, p = .004) demonstrated statistically significant small positive correlations with IPAQ metabolic equivalent of task (MET) scores. Of three social support subscales, only friend support yielded a significant positive correlation (r = .130, p = .040). Family and physical environment support were not significantly associated with physical activity. Intrinsic, health-related motivation and peer social support appear to be the primary psychosocial correlates of physical activity in this private college setting, pointing toward peer-centred wellness programming as a practical campus-level intervention strategy.
Alecu, S., Onea, G. A., & Badau, D. (2025). The relationship between motivation for physical activity, physical activity level, and body mass index for university students. Sports, 13(4), 96. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13040096
Al-Hajj, L. K. M., Chia, H. Y., Kamarudin, K. S., Wan Muda, W. A. M., & Lee, Y. Y. (2023). A scoping review of the changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviour and its health outcomes among adults in Asia during the COVID-19 outbreak. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 19(5), 275–305. https://doi.org/10.47836/mjmhs19.5.36
Alvarez-Pitti, J., Casajús-Mallén, J. A., Leis-Trabazo, R., Lucía, A., López de Lara, D., Moreno-Aznar, L. A., & Rodríguez-Martínez, G. (2020). Exercise as medicine in chronic diseases during childhood and adolescence. Anales de Pediatría (English Edition), 92(3), 173.e1–173.e8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anpede.2020.01.001
Chu, A. H. Y., & Moy, F. M. (2012). Reliability and validity of the Malay International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-M) among a Malay population in Malaysia. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 27(2), NP2381–NP2389. https://doi.org/10.1177/1010539512444120
Chung, Q. E., Abdulrahman, S. A., Jamal Khan, M. K., Jahubar Sathik, H. B., & Rashid, A. (2018). The relationship between levels of physical activity and academic achievement among medical and health sciences students at Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences. Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, 25(5), 88–102. https://doi.org/10.21315/mjms2018.25.5.9
Cohen, J. (1992). A power primer. Psychological Bulletin, 112(1), 155–159. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.112.1.155
Craig, C. L., Marshall, A. L., Sjöström, M., Bauman, A. E., Booth, M. L., Ainsworth, B. E., Pratt, M., Ekelund, U., Yngve, A., Sallis, J. F., & Oja, P. (2003). International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 35(8), 1381–1395. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.0000078924.61453.FB
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Plenum Press.
De Man, J., Kasujja, F. X., Delobelle, P., Annerstedt, K. S., Alvesson, H. M., Absetz, P., Mayega, R. W., Daivadanam, M., Kiracho, E. E., Puoane, T., & Van Olmen, J. (2022). Motivational determinants of physical activity in disadvantaged populations with (pre)diabetes: A cross-cultural comparison. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 164. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12539-9
Dinger, M. K., Behrens, T. K., & Han, J. L. (2006). Validity and reliability of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire in college students. American Journal of Health Education, 37(6), 337–343. https://doi.org/10.1080/19325037.2006.10598924
Habib, M. B., Khoo, S., & Morris, T. (2022). Motives and passion of adults from Pakistan toward physical activity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6), 3298. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063298
Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate data analysis (7th ed.). Pearson Prentice Hall.
Herbert, C., Meixner, F., Wiebking, C., & Gilg, V. (2020). Regular physical activity, short-term exercise, mental health, and well-being among university students: The results of an online and a laboratory study. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 509. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00509
Hilger-Kolb, J., Loerbroks, A., & Diehl, K. (2020). “When I have time pressure, sport is the first thing that is cancelled”: A mixed-methods study on barriers to physical activity among university students in Germany. Journal of Sports Sciences, 38(21), 2479–2488. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1792159
Hohepa, M., Scragg, R., Schofield, G., Kolt, G. S., & Schaaf, D. (2007). Social support for youth physical activity: Importance of siblings, parents, friends and school support across a segmented school day. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 4(1), 54. https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-4-54
Ikechukwu, E. C., Mgbeojedo, U., Uchenwoke, C., Ugwueze, C., Uduonu, E., & Okezue, O. (2021). Physical activity level and factors affecting exercise participation among Nigerian adults with and without diabetes. European Medical Journal. https://doi.org/10.33590/emj/20-00214
Institute for Public Health. (2024). National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023: Non-communicable diseases and healthcare demand – key findings. National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia.
Johannes, C., Roman, N. V., Onagbiye, S. O., Titus, S., & Leach, L. L. (2024). Relationship between psychosocial factors and physical activity among undergraduate students from a South African university. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(4), 441. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21040441
Kljajevi?, V., Stankovi?, M., ?or?evi?, D., Trkulja-Petkovi?, D., Jovanovi?, R., Plazibat, K., Bogataj, Š., Kurnik, J., & Sporis?, G. (2021). Physical activity and physical fitness among university students: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1), 158. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010158
Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607–610. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308
Kuan, G., Abdullah, N., Kueh, Y. C., Ismail, M., Shafei, M. N., & Morris, T. (2019). Co-curricular activities and motives for participating in physical activity among health sciences students at Universiti Sains Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, 26(1), 138–146. https://doi.org/10.21315/mjms2019.26.1.13
Kueh, Y. C., Kuan, G., & Morris, T. (2017). The Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale: A confirmatory study of the Malay language version. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 17(3), 250–265. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2017.1321029
Law, M. Y., Siaw, Y. L., Yim, S. C., & How, P. K. (2025). Perceived social support and psychological distress as the mediating and moderating factors on individuals’ well-being and life satisfaction. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 21(3), 171–179. https://doi.org/10.47836/mjmhs.21.3.20
Mohamed, M. N., Mohd Sani, N. Q. A., A Rahman, M. W., Saiful Annur, M. S., Mazaulan, M., Razak, M. A., & Azreen, N. A. (2022). Association between enjoyment factor and physical activity level among tertiary education students. Malaysian Journal of Sport Science and Recreation, 18(1), 24–35. https://doi.org/10.24191/mjssr.v18i1.17625
Mohd Sidik, S., Akhtari-Zavare, M., Mohamad, N. E., & Saibul, N. (2025). Does physical activity, eating habit and psychological stress affect body mass index? A cross-sectional study among university students in Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 21(2), 126–135. https://doi.org/10.47836/mjmhs.21.2.17
Molanorouzi, K., Khoo, S., & Morris, T. (2014). Validating the Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale (PALMS). BMC Public Health, 14, 909. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-909
Molanorouzi, K., Khoo, S., & Morris, T. (2015). Motives for adult participation in physical activity: Type of activity, age, and gender. BMC Public Health, 15, 66. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1429-7
Otundo, J. O., & MacGregor, S. K. (2019). Effect of situational interest and social support on college students’ physical activity motivation: A mixed methods analysis. Physical Educator, 76(2), 502–523. https://doi.org/10.18666/TPE-2019-V76-I2-8502
Paluska, S. A., & Schwenk, T. L. (2000). Physical activity and mental health: Current concepts. Sports Medicine, 29(3), 167–180. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200029030-00003
Sabo, A., Kueh, Y. C., Arifin, W. N., Kim, Y., & Kuan, G. (2020). The validity and reliability of the Malay version of the social support for exercise and physical environment for physical activity scales. PLOS ONE, 15(9), e0239725. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239725
Shakira, L., Yau, E. K. B., & Choi, C. S. (2024). The association of physical activity against depression among Universiti Putra Malaysia undergraduate medical students: A cross sectional study. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 20(5), 226–236. https://doi.org/10.47836/mjmhs20.5.29
Silva, R. M. F., Mendonça, C. R., Azevedo, V. D., Raoof Memon, A., Noll, P. R. E. S., & Noll, M. (2022). Barriers to high school and university students’ physical activity: A systematic review. PLOS ONE, 17(4), e0265913. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265913
Wilmot, E. G., Edwardson, C. L., Achana, F. A., Davies, M. J., Gorely, T., Gray, L. J., Khunti, K., Yates, T., & Biddle, S. J. (2012). Sedentary time in adults and the association with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and death: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetologia, 55(11), 2895–2905. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-012-2677-z
Winpenny, E. M., Smith, M., Penney, T., Foubister, C., Guagliano, J. M., Love, R., Clifford Astbury, C., van Sluijs, E. M. F., & Corder, K. (2020). Changes in physical activity, diet, and body weight across the education and employment transitions of early adulthood: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews, 21(4), e12962. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12962
World Health Organization. (2020). WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240015128
Xiang, M., Gu, X., Zhang, X., Moss, S., Huang, C., Nelson, L. P., & Zhang, T. (2020). Psychosocial mechanism of adolescents’ depression: A dose-response relation with physical activity. Children, 7(4), 37. https://doi.org/10.3390/children7040037
Zach, S., Bar-Eli, M., Morris, T., & Moore, M. (2012). Measuring motivation for physical activity: An exploratory study of PALMS – The Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale. Athletic Insight, 4(2), 141–154.
Khairi, H. B. M., Moganan, H., & Chan, E. W. B. M. (2026). The Psychosocial Factors of Physical Activity Levels among Malaysian College Students. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 16(6), 871–885.
Copyright: © 2026 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
