| dc.description.abstract | The movement of the body has always been a large part of an individual’s life. Basic locomotor movements such as walking, playing basketball, or showing a steer. An individual usually is moving from the time they wake up to the time they lay down for the night. College students may be viewed as people that are always moving and always on the go. Never getting a chance to recuperate from extracurricular activities, school, or work. In addition, college students’ stress levels elevate during certain times of the year. Finals and midterms are prime times for their stress levels to be elevated. This research begins right as stress levels begin to peak. This study was conducted the day before finals and during the first day of finals at Texas A&M University. A certified Zumba instructor came for two days and taught one 45-minute- long class each day. The participants completed a survey before the class and immediately after they had finished the Zumba class. After both classes had finished and the responses were collected, the study shows that this type of aerobics class influences college students’ stress levels. It positively influenced their stress levels. 88% of the responses said that their stress levels decreased. The rest of the respondents (12%) responded that their stress levels did not decrease or increase, they remained the same. Out of the 44 participants, 43 reported that they would take another Zumba class. This study can further help encourage college students to take time out of their busy schedules to participate in a form of exercise to alleviate their stressors. For this study, Zumba was utilized, however, that doesn’t always have to be the activity of choice. Including playing a basketball game, jogging, or taking a yoga class. The reason for this study is to show students that taking a mental break and engaging in some type of physical activity will help lower their stress levels and potentially help them perform better on their exams or projects. The final reason for this study was to bring some sort of joy into the lives of stressed-out college students who were struggling with final exams. | |
