Lifestyle and Health Characteristics of Students during Distance Learning

Abstract

Introduction: Human health and lifestyle are influenced by many risk factors and living conditions. The purpose of the study was to analyze lifestyle and health characteristics of students during traditional and compelled distance learning. Materials and methods: We conducted a questionnaire-based survey of 300 students (years 2, 4, and 6) of the Voronezh State Medical University named after N.N. Burdenko. The questionnaire was specially developed by the authors and included questions about physical activity of medical students, their compliance with Coronavirus lockdown rules, sleep and rest, daily routine, diet, addiction to bad habits, and self-rated health during traditional and distance learning. Results and discussion: The study was conducted stepwise. We observed better self-discipline in following a stay-at-home order among junior students compared to their senior fellows. The period of compelled distance learning caused a decrease in physical activity of students, regardless of the year, with the exception of persons regularly engaged in physical exercises. The average daily walking distance of the respondents dropped from 5.35 km to 1.36 km in those observing the lockdown rules and to 3.15 km in those violating them. We established the relationship between distance learning and changes in sleep patterns, nutrition, and daily routine. We also revealed nutrition disorders leading to a weight gain and ranked bad habits related to transition to an unusual e-learning. A statistically significant worsening of self-rated health of the respondents was demonstrated. Conclusion: Distance learning during the spring semester of 2020 raised a number of novel questions regarding a wide variety of aspects of the educational process, lifestyle, nutrition, sleep, and rest.