The behavior of practicing sports among nursing students.

Objective: Analyzing the frequency patterns of practicing sports, the stages of change phases and the pros and cons of decision-making balance in nursing students related to gender and which year of study they are in.

Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive and exploratory study.

Results: 535 students of both genders participated in the study. An analysis of the results revealed that 27.6% of the students did not present any frequency of practicing sports; 55.3% of the students did not have a consistent or continuous habit of practicing sports; students overall exhibited a non-existing frequency of practicing sports at similar levels throughout the study cycle; male students presented similar percentages in their positioning in the precontemplation and contemplation stages throughout the study cycle; and throughout all the stages of change phases students showed higher values for pros over cons related to practicing sports.

Conclusion: The results reinforce the relevance for implementing mechanisms for promoting and monitoring nursing students' involvement and regular participation in practicing sports.