Association Between Internet Use, Sleep, Cognition and Physical Activity Levels During COVID-19 Lockdown.

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Public Health
• Digital Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated widespread lockdowns, altering daily routines and increasing reliance on the internet.
• Understanding the impact of these changes on sleep, cognition, and physical activity is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare internet usage, sleep quality, cognition, and physical activity between college professors and students during COVID-19 lockdown.
• To examine the association between internet overuse and sleep, cognition, and physical activity in this population.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 125 participants (52 professors, 73 students) from Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India, were assessed.
• Internet usage (Internet Addiction Test), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), cognition (Cognitive Failure Questionnaire), and physical activity (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire) were measured using Google Forms.

Main Results:

• Significant differences were found in internet usage, sleep quality, cognition (distractibility), and physical activity between professors and students (p < 0.05).
• Internet usage showed significant associations with sleep quality and cognition (p < 0.05).
• Sleep quality was also significantly associated with cognition (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• College students reported more problematic internet usage, worse sleep quality, greater cognitive failures, and lower physical activity compared to professors during the lockdown.
• Problematic internet usage was correlated with sleep quality, cognition, and physical activity.