The impact of the covid-19 pandemic on lifestyle behaviors in U.S. college students

Abstract

Objective

To investigate COVID-19’s impact on college student health behaviors.

Participants

189 college students.

Methods

Participants completed an online survey on behaviors relating to sleep, sedentary activities, and physical activity before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparisons utilized Students’ dependent t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.

Results

There was an increase in time to fall asleep (before: 23.4 ± 18.0 vs. during: 42.8 ± 44.3 min·day⁻¹, p < 0.001), time spent in bed (before: 7.8 ± 1.5 vs. during: 8.5 ± 1.5 hr·day⁻¹, p < 0.001), as well as shifts in later bed and awake time (p < 0.001). Total sedentary time increased during the pandemic (before: 9.0 ± 3.8 vs. during: 9.9 ± 4.1 hr·day⁻¹, p = 0.016); and time spent using a TV, computer, or phone (before: 3.1 ± 1.9 vs. during: 4.2 ± 2.3 hr·day⁻¹, p < 0.001). There was a significant decrease in moderate-vigorous activity (before: 123.8 ± 96.0 vs. during: 108.9 ± 75.5 min·week⁻¹, p = 0.028) and resistance training days (before: 2.4 ± 2.1 vs. during: 1.7 ± 2.1 days·week⁻¹, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

COVID-19 negatively influenced health behaviors in college students.

Keywords:

• Physical activity
• sedentary behavior
• sleep
• university

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to legal requirements, of the United States and received approval from the IRB of the university at which this research was conducted.

Disclosure statement

All authors report no conflict of interest for this study

Funding

No funding was used to support this research and/or the preparation of the manuscript.