Healthy College Student 24-hour Activity Profiles Are Related To Feelings Of Energy And Less Fatigue

Abstract

PURPOSE: College students report feelings of low mental energy (ME) and physical energy (PE) and increased mental fatigue (MF) and physical fatigue (PF). Students also report poor sleep, high levels of sedentary behavior (SED), and insufficient physical activity (PA) to meet recommendations. Sleep, SED, and PA independently impact feelings of ME, MF, PE, PF, but may be more problematic when evaluated together as components of the 24-hour activity profile (24-HAP). The purpose of this study was to determine the potential cumulative effects of 3 poor 24-HAP behaviors (24-HAPB) on ME, MF, PE, PF in a college student cohort. METHODS: Students (n=669; 80% female; 20.4±1.6yrs) were grouped based on 3 poor self-reported 24-HAPB defined via: a) Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (either Global Score ≥6 or sleep duration <6 or >9hrs), b) Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire (≥600 min SED), c) Cancer Leisure PA Questionnaire (<150min/wk moderate- to vigorous-PA or <2days/wk muscle strengthening). ME, MF, PE, PF were assessed via Mental and Physical State and Trait Energy and Fatigue Scales (scale 0 - 300; more intense feelings = higher score). MANCOVA assessed differences in ME, MF, PE, PF between 4 groups with 0 - 3 poor behaviors (PB) adjusted for sex, depression, and body mass index. Cohen’s d quantified significant effect sizes. RESULTS: PB were common (68.7% sleep, 56.4% PA, and 34.8% SED) and students had from 0 to 3 PB: 0-PB, n = 80, 1-PB, n = 216, 2-PB, n = 268, or 3-PB, n = 105. ME for 0-PB was higher (all p<.05) than 1-PB (d=4.1), 2-PB (d=4.1), and 3-PB (d=3.6). MF for 0-PB was lower (both p<.05) than 1-PB (d=3.2) and 2-PB (d=3.0) but did not differ from 3-PB (d=2.1; p>.05). PE for 0-PB was higher (all p<.05) than 1-PB (d=2.8), 2-PB (d=4.6), and 3-PB (d=5.1); 1-PB also had higher PE than 3-PB (d=3.3; p<.05). PF was higher (all p<.05) for 3-PB than 0-PB (d=4.5), 1-PB (d=5.4), and 2-PB (d=3.4). CONCLUSIONS: ME and PE are higher and MF and PF are lower for college students reporting fewer poor 24-HAPB. Notably, having just 1 poor 24-HAPB adversely impacted ME and MF as well as PE and PF. College health promotion efforts should educate students on the interactions of 24-HAPB and feelings of energy and fatigue with specific reference to the potential adverse compounding impacts of sleep, SED, and PA on these increasingly important quality of life outcomes.