The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity habits at a residential university

Abstract

Objective: To assess changes in physical activity (PA) after a COVID-19 shutdown on a primarily residential university campus. Methods: Eighty students, faculty, and staff (FS) of a university (age: 32.2 ± 13.6 yr) who wore a consumer wearable technology (CWT) device completed an anonymous survey by inputting data for 30 days prior to- and 30 days following an academic break in 2020, in which the university transitioned to remote learning. Results: Steps decreased after spring break in all subjects (p < .001), but steps were impacted to a greater extent in students. 30-day, weekday, and weekend step averages all decreased in students (p < .001). FS were able to maintain their weekend step averages. Conclusions: PA decreased in a university community after the COVID-19 shutdown. Students, no longer active transport for campus life, saw a greater impact on their PA. These changes could have an impact on health status.

Keywords:

• College
• COVID-19
• physical activity
• steps

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 of America and received approval from the IRB of the university at which this research was conducted.

Additional information

Funding

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