Mental Health and Movement Behaviour During the COVID-19 Pandemic in UK University Students: Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to negatively impact the mental health of young people and students in particular, yet there is lack of prospective longitudinal data quantifying such changes. This study examines the mental health and movement behaviours, and the associations between the changes in mental health and movement behaviours, of UK university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 214 students enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study (mean age = 20⸱0 years; males = 28⸱0%, females = 72⸱0%) at an East Midlands UK University. Participants completed a self-report, online survey on four occasions; twice before (14/10/2019; T1 and 28/01/2020; T2) and twice during the UK government enforced ‘lockdown’ (20/03/2020; T3 and 27/04/2020; T4). Mental wellbeing and perceived stress were measured using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale and Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale, respectively. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess for changes in variables over time, whilst correlation analysis tested for associations. Findings: During the first 5 weeks of ‘lockdown’ mental wellbeing and physical activity decreased ((F (2⸱2, 465⸱0) = 6⸱6, p < ⸱0010 and (F (2⸱7, 591⸱0) = 4⸱8, p < ⸱010 respectively)). Meanwhile, perceived stress and time spent in sedentary behaviour significantly increased ((F (2⸱5, 536⸱2) = 94⸱0, p < ⸱0050 and (F (2⸱7, 578⸱9) = 41⸱2, p < ⸱0001 respectively)). The changes in mental wellbeing and stress were not associated with gender or pre-lockdown mental health, nor were they associated with changes physical activity. A positive association was found between the change in perceived stress and the change in sedentary behaviour (r = ⸱18, p < ⸱010). Interpretation: The COVID-19 pandemic is having detrimental effects on the mental health and movement behaviour of university students in the UK. However, these two constructs seem to be changing independently of one another. Funding: The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: Ethical approval was granted by the Science and Technology College Research Ethics Committee of the University.