Physical Activity and Sedentary Lifestyle in University Students: Changes during Confinement Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Regular physical activity is related to many factors in a university student’s environment. The coronavirus pandemic and the resulting lockdown have restricted many elements of our environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate students’ physical activity and sedentary behaviour at two points in time: before and during the coronavirus lockdown. As a secondary aim, we also wanted to look at changes resulting from other factors (alcohol, tobacco, diet, stages of change, symptoms of anxiety/depression and sociodemographic characteristics). We conducted an observational, cross-sectional, pre-post study with two cut-off points. Two hundred and thirteen students took part in the study. The main dependent variables were physical activity and sitting time, measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Parametric and non-parametric tests were used for paired and unpaired data, as well as group-stratified analysis. During lockdown, both weekly physical activity (MD: −159.87; CI: −100.44, −219.31) and weekly sitting time increased (MD: −106.76; CI: −71.85, −141.67). In the group analysis, differences were observed in relation to gender, year of study, BMI, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, symptoms of anxiety/depression, Mediterranean diet, living situation and stage of change. The results showed an increase in both physical activity and sitting time globally and by group.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on University Students' Physical Activity Levels: An Early Systematic Review

“…Nine out of the ten studies included in the systematic review showed significant decreases in PA levels during lockdown, both in questionnaires as accelerometers. Surprisingly, one study (Romero-Blanco et al, 2020 ) showed significant increases in PA levels among university students during lockdown. Romero-Blanco et al ( 2020 ) showed that Health Sciences university students performed significantly higher minutes/week of total PA (+71.6%) and vigorous PA (+7.4%), both males (+ 83.3%) as females (+ 23.6%).…”

“…Surprisingly, one study (Romero-Blanco et al, 2020 ) showed significant increases in PA levels among university students during lockdown. Romero-Blanco et al ( 2020 ) showed that Health Sciences university students performed significantly higher minutes/week of total PA (+71.6%) and vigorous PA (+7.4%), both males (+ 83.3%) as females (+ 23.6%). On the other hand, Sañudo et al ( 2020 ) showed an objective reduction in PA with 67.7% fewer steps per day during the lockdown.…”

“…One thousand one hundred thirty-seven references were identified after search process in four databases, of which 10 (Ács et al, 2020 ; Barkley et al, 2020 ; Gallè et al, 2020 ; Gallo et al, 2020 ; Karuc et al, 2020 ; Maher et al, 2020 ; Romero-Blanco et al, 2020 ; Sañudo et al, 2020 ; Savage et al, 2020 ; Alarcón Meza and Hall-López, 2021 ) met the inclusion criteria. Figure 1 shows the flow chart of the selection process of the studies.…”

Dietary Habits and Psychological States during COVID-19 Home Isolation in Italian College Students: The Role of Physical Exercise

“…Gallo et al [8] investigated the impact of isolation measures on energy intake and physical activity levels in Australian university students, reporting a reduction in physical exercise levels, and an increase in energy intake and snacking frequency. Interestingly, Romero-Blanco et al [29] reported that-during home-confinement in Spain-university students that adopted a Mediterranean diet, also spent more time doing physical exercise. Ingram et al [30] investigated the changes in health behaviours related to negative mood states in a sample of about four hundred adults during the COVID-19 quarantine in the UK, reporting changes in diet, sleep quality, physical activity levels and poorer mental health.…”

“…Jayawardene et al [47] also highlighted that exercise could favour fruit and vegetable consumption in young adulthood. Romero-Blanco et al [29] conducted a study among university students during home-confinement due to COVID-19 in Spain, and evidenced a positive correlation between a Mediterranean diet (known to be rich in fruit and vegetables) and physical exercise. Physical exercise and healthy food choices seem to facilitate each other, via improved self-regulatory strategies and intentions (e.g., planning to perform physical exercise), indicating potential transfer effects between these behaviours [19,47,48].…”