COVID-19 Pandemic Brings a Sedentary Lifestyle in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to pose profound challenges to society. Its spread has been mitigated through strategies including social distancing; however, this may result in the adoption of a sedentary lifestyle. This study aimed to investigate: 1) physical activity (PA) levels, sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep in young adults during the COVID-19 epidemic, and 2) the change in these behaviors before and during the pandemic. A total of 631 young adults (38.8% males) aged between 18 and 35 participated in the cross-sectional study and completed a one-off online survey relating to general information, PA, SB, and sleep. For the longitudinal study, PA, SB, and sleep data, obtained from 70 participants before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, were analyzed. Participants engaged in low PA, high SB, and long sleep duration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, a significant decline in PA while an increase in time spent in both SB and sleep was observed during the COVID-19 outbreak. The results of this study demonstrated a sedentary lifestyle in young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, which will assist health policymakers and practitioners in the development of population specific health education and behavior interventions during this pandemic and for other future events.

Poor Sleep during the First Peak of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…While sleep quality has been frequently investigated, results have not always been consistent. In China, Wang and colleagues found that 75% of 2289 individuals isolated at home rated their sleep as very good [ 11 ], but a smaller prospective study found that 37% of a sample of young Chinese adults reported a worsening of their sleep quality during the pandemic [ 12 ]. Studies conducted in other countries have demonstrated that lockdown could either lead to an increase in the amount of time spent in bed [ 13 , 14 ], with good sleep efficiency [ 13 ] or associated with sleep disorders [ 15 , 16 ] and disruption of one’s habitual circadian rhythm [ 14 ].…”

The COVID-19 epidemic in Poland and its influence on the quality of life of university students (young adults) in the context of restricted access to public spaces

“…Excessive Internet use is sometimes viewed as an asocial behavior that is linked with mood disorders, but during the COVID-19 crisis, the Internet significantly helped people socialize (Banjanin et al 2015;Chen and Peng 2008;Marcinkowski et al 2010). University students relied on online tools to communicate with their peers, build and maintain relationships with friends, and remain socially connected (Cain 2008;Martínez-Alemán and Wartman 2008;Park 2010;Swist et al 2015;Wyn et al 2005). The virtual environment, online public space and online communities completely replaced physical public spaces during the pandemic (Hampton et al 2010;Király et al 2020;Li 2010;Prakash et al 2020).…”

Music Listening Predicted Improved Life Satisfaction in University Students During Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Around the world, COVID-19 quickly disrupted everyday life ( Sundarasen et al, 2020 ; Zhang W.-R. et al, 2020 ; Zheng et al, 2020 ), causing significant physical harm for a large proportion of the community ( Sibley et al, 2020 ). With the goal of curtailing the spread of the virus, many governments implemented strict quarantine, and spatial distancing measures.…”