Sedentary behaviour in Australian university students: The contribution of study-related sedentary behaviour to total sedentary behaviour

Casey A Sutherland; Rachel L Cole; Mary Kynn; Marion A Gray

doi:10.1002/hpja.829

Sedentary behaviour in Australian university students: The contribution of study-related sedentary behaviour to total sedentary behaviour

Health Promot J Austr. 2023 Dec 10. doi: 10.1002/hpja.829. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Casey A Sutherland¹, Rachel L Cole¹, Mary Kynn², Marion A Gray³

Affiliations

¹ School of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia.
² School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
³ Centre for Health Research/School of Health and Wellbeing, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.

PMID: 38071954
DOI: 10.1002/hpja.829

Abstract

Issue addressed: Seated activities are attributed to increased sedentary behaviour (SB) and adverse health effects, but little is currently known about university students' SB, particularly study-related SB. This study describes the sociodemographic variations of domain-specific SB in regional Australian university students and the contribution of study-related SB to total SB.

Methods: Self-reported daily SBs from a cross-sectional survey of 451 students were used. Domain-specific and total SB were described within sub-groups, and differences examined using independent t-tests. Multinomial regression was used to examine the association of tertiles of duration in study-related SB with total and other domain-specific SBs.

Results: Study participants were a median age of 21 (19-25 years), mostly female (76%) and represented different years of study. On average, students spent 882 ± 292 min/day in total SB, with most SB occurring in the study, screen time and 'other activity' domains. No sociodemographic variations were found in total SB, but significantly higher study-related SB were reported by students studying full time (p < .001) and who moved from their family home to study (p < .022). Study-related SB contributed 36% of total SB, with students most sedentary during study having the highest total SB.

Conclusions: This study suggests university students have high levels of SB, primarily in the domains of study, screen time and other activities. SB reduction strategies in universities and targeting screen time, across various sociodemographic groups (e.g., gender, university enrolment status, and living arrangements), may be important in reducing SB in university students. SO WHAT?: University students are highly sedentary and should be included in SB programs especially students studying full time and those who moved from their family home in the study domain.

Keywords: health promotion; public health; sitting.