Changes in Physical Activity among United Kingdom University Students Following the Implementation of Coronavirus Lockdown Measures.

Nicola T Fear,Ryan Hunt,Daniel Leightley,Matthew Hotopf,Alice Wickersham,Ewan Carr,Jordan P Davis,Johnny Downs

doi:10.3390/ijerph18062792

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and resulting restrictions have significantly impacted physical activity levels. However, objectively measured changes in physical activity levels among UK university students during lockdown are understudied. Using data collected via remote measurement technology from a mobile physical activity tracker, this study aimed to describe the longitudinal trajectories of physical activity following the start of lockdown among students at a large UK university, and to investigate whether these trajectories varied according to age, gender, and ethnicity. Continuous physical activity data for steps walked per week (n = 730) and miles run per week (n = 264) were analysed over the first period of lockdown and subsequent restriction easing using negative binomial mixed models for repeated measures. Throughout the observation period, more steps were walked by males compared to females, and by White groups compared to all other ethnic groups combined. However, there was a gradual increase in the number of steps walked per week following the commencement of lockdown, irrespective of sociodemographic characteristics. For females only, there was a decrease in the number of miles run per week following lockdown. The long-term impact of the pandemic on physical health is unknown, but our results highlight changes in physical activity which could have implications for physical health.

Highlights

In the United Kingdom (UK), a nationwide lockdown across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland was announced on 23 March 2020 in response to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which causes COVID-19 [1]
The aims of this study were to describe trajectories of student PA following the start of UK lockdown and to investigate whether these trajectories varied according to key sociodemographic characteristics
The majority of users in the analytical sample were female (n = 536, 72.8%), approximately half were from White ethnic groups (n = 393, 53.4%), and users had a median age of 22 years (IQR = 20–25)

Summary

Introduction

In the United Kingdom (UK), a nationwide lockdown across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland was announced on 23 March 2020 in response to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which causes COVID-19 [1]. Many services, including fitness centres, hospitality, leisure, and educational institutions were forced to close for an unspecified amount of time. For the UK’s Higher Education system, this resulted in all universities closing their campuses, asking students to return home and moving to remote methods of teaching and assessment. These changes impacted an estimated 2.4 million students aged 18 years or older, and raised important questions about how they might be coping with the restrictions [2].

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