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.