Sedentary time of university students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Risk groups and pre-pandemic predictors using cross-sectional and longitudinal data

Abstract

BackgroundThe present study aimed to (1) assess and compare sedentary time (ST) of university students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) examine risk groups with regard to ST and the “extent of change” in ST (from before to during the pandemic) in association with sociodemographic (gender, age), study-related (degree aspired to, field of study, semester), and pre-pandemic physical health-related [pre-pandemic physical activity (PA) and ST levels, pre-pandemic BMI class] variables, and (3) investigate whether the change in ST was predicted by these variables.MethodsTwo online surveys were conducted among students at the University of Mainz, Germany—the first in 2019 (before the pandemic) and the second in 2020 (during the pandemic). Participants of both surveys were included in a longitudinal sample. With the longitudinal sample's data, paired t-tests, single factor, and mixed analyses of variances were used to examine group differences in ST and the “extent of change” in ST. A linear regression analysis was computed to investigate the influence of the abovementioned sociodemographic, study-related, and pre-pandemic physical health-related variables on the change in ST.ResultsOf the N = 4,351 (pre-pandemic) and N = 3,066 (in-pandemic) participants of the online surveys, N = 443 entered the longitudinal sample. ST increased by 1.4 h/day to critical levels (≥8 h/day) in all subgroups analyzed—even among students who were highly physically active before the pandemic. Students with a low pre-pandemic ST had the largest increase in ST. Pre-pandemic PA level negatively predicted the change in ST.ConclusionEven during a global pandemic lockdown, individuals who were previously more physically active and had less ST showed more health-promoting behavior in terms of ST. Therefore, it can be stated that efforts to promote PA and reduce ST are always valuable. Since ST increased and was worryingly high in all subgroups analyzed, all university students should be targeted by multidimensional approaches to tackle ST and promote their health.

Videos using different message strategies to promote the interruption of sedentary behavior in university students during online lectures – A pilot study

“…However, existing research suggests that the amount of SB is not linearly associated with moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity ( 66 ). In fact, the extent of light-intensity physical activity (e.g., walking to the campus, to the bus station, or between lectures) and SB are inversely correlated ( 67 ), which indicates that everyday life physical activity might be more important to regularly interrupt SB than moderate-to-vigorous intensities of physical activity which predominantly occur in exercising or engaging in sports ( 68 ). As the investigation did not include a passive control group, the general effect of video-based interventions to promote the interruption of SB during online lectures could not be determined.…”

Behavioural patterns of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study of the effects of active transportation, uninterrupted sitting time, and screen use on physical activity and sitting time

“…25 Similarly, when people spend more than six hours sitting, they replace that time with walking and moderate to vigorous physical activity. 26 According to Heller and colleagues, 27 sitting time during the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly lower among students who were highly physically active before the pandemic than among physically inactive students. The same authors showed no differences in sitting time between students who were moderately physically active and those who were physically inactive.…”

“…In the literature related to the COVID-19 pandemic, university students would not show significant changes in their screen time related to sedentary time or physical activity, as students with higher levels of sedentary time also had higher levels of screen time. 27,28 Most studies about confinement in the COVID-19 pandemic have focused on total times of changes in physical activity levels and sitting time 29 or screen time. 30 However, it is suggested that not only the total duration of these behaviours, but also the way it is accumulated throughout the day (e.g., in a few long periods of time or in several shorter periods of time) might have a different effect on health.…”

“…Regarding the fourth hypothesis; the new version includes arguments explaining why we think there are no relationships between active transport, sitting time, and screen time. Please see referencesHeller et al, 2023;Trott et al, 2022.…”