College students became more morning in the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic: impacts on sleep, mood, sunlight exposure and physical activity

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to evaluate the sleep, sunlight exposure, chronotype, mood and physical activity of college students in two consecutive years during the COVID-19 pandemic (Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry: RBR-4m5j4s). The students (n = 318) answered questionnaires in two moments (2020 - time 1 and 2021 – time 2). The data showed that there was less sunlight exposure and a chronotype with more morning tendencies in the time 2, but with no difference in sleep quality. College students walked more and sat less on weekends, but with no difference in the physical activity level. Physical activity and morning chronotype were associated with lower psychological impact. Therefore, college students, despite being less exposed to sunlight and having greater morning trends in 2021, maintained psychological symptoms, sleep quality and physical activity in the first two years of the pandemic. However, students who practiced physical activity and were mornings suffered less psychological impact.

KEYWORDS:

• Sleepiness
• physical exercise
• sedentary lifestyle
• mental health
• social distancing

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

The Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001- granted the student MCMMD's scholarship.