The impact of the covid-19 pandemic on lifestyle behaviors in US college students

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 center dot day(-1), p < 0.001), time spent in bed (before: 7.8 +/- 1.5 vs. during: 8.5 +/- 1.5 hr center dot 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 center dot 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 center dot 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 center dot week(-1), p = 0.028) and resistance training days (before: 2.4 +/- 2.1 vs. during: 1.7 +/- 2.1 days center dot week(-1), p < 0.001). Conclusions COVID-19 negatively influenced health behaviors in college students.