Exploring the psychological factors that influence sedentary behaviour in university students during the Covid-19 pandemic

Savage, Matthew J, Hennis, Philip J, Magistro, Daniele, Donaldson, James, Hunter, Kirsty A and James, Ruth M (2022) Exploring the psychological factors that influence sedentary behaviour in university students during the Covid-19 pandemic. Medicine Science in Sports Exercise, 54 (9S), 149-150, [585]. (doi:10.1249/01.mss.0000876916.93999.dc).

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to impaired mental health and increased sedentary behaviour in university students. Recent literature has detailed the associations between impaired components of mental health and increased sedentary behaviour during the early stages of the pandemic. However, the longitudinal interactions between these two concepts have not yet been established in the context of COVID-19.

PURPOSE: To explore, using path analysis, the longitudinal interactions between mental wellbeing and perceived stress prior to the pandemic, and sedentary behaviour and motivation to exercise in the nine months following the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in UK university students.

METHODS: This study used an online self-report survey to quantify levels of mental wellbeing, perceived stress, motivation to be exercise, and sedentary behaviour in 255 students prior to (October 2019) and nine months (October 2020) following the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the UK. Path analysis by structural equation modelling was used to explore the effect of pre-covid mental wellbeing and perceived stress on sedentary behaviour and motivation to exercise during the pandemic.

RESULTS: The fit of the path analysis model was good (χ² = 0.095; CMIN = 0.095; GFI = 0.999; CFI = 0.999; RMSEA < 0.001). Pre-covid levels of mental wellbeing and perceived stress were not related to sedentary behaviour (r = -0.03; r = 0.05; P > 0.05) but were positively related to motivation to exercise during the pandemic (r = 0.42; r = 0.39; P < 0.001). Additionally, both variables were indirectly negatively related to sedentary behaviour, through motivation to exercise (r = -0.31; P < 0.001). Furthermore, pre-covid sedentary behaviour was positively related to sedentary behaviour during the pandemic (r = 0.34; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that pre-covid mental wellbeing and perceived stress have an indirect influence on time spent sedentary during the pandemic, through motivation to exercise. Universities and policy makers should consider how current mental health status impacts the amount of sedentary behaviour students undertake during their university career.

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Contributors

Author: Daniele Magistro

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