Physical Activity And Sedentary Behavior In College Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Emergence of the coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) impacted the population’s health behaviors. The influence of local shut downs and interpersonal regulations on physical activity and sedentary behaviors in college-aged students is not well understood. PURPOSE: To investigate changes in physical activity and sedentary time as well as identify major barriers to leisure-time physical activity among college age students during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We recruited undergraduate and graduate students attending a large University in the Midwest during the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020. Physical activity and sedentary time were estimated a week before lockdown and a week during May 2020 using the Activity Questionnaire for Adults and Adolescents (AQuAA). Barriers to physical activity during the pandemic were assessed in May using 8 statements that participants ranked. Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests were used to examine changes in the AQuAA before and during the pandemic. Frequencies were used to examine the number of respondents citing the same top barrier to physical activity. RESULTS: Student respondents (n = 230) were mostly female (82%) with a median age of 21 years ±5. Median weekly MVPA minutes significantly decreased (7891 ± 7340 vs. 5550 ± 6410) and sedentary time significantly increased (1330 ± 1570 vs. 2415 ± 1770) during the initial COVID-19 shutdown. Specific activities with notable changes included a significant decrease in commuting walk time and a significant increase in computer time among others (see Table). The most commonly cited barriers to physical activity during the pandemic included lack of access to places to exercise and schoolwork. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 related regulations are associated with reduced physical activity and increased sedentary behaviors of college age students. Local regulation may have introduced new barriers to physical activity.Table: Median MVPA and Sedentary Time Before and During COVID-19