Physical activity and stress among college students at a large US university during the COVID-19 pandemic

As the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown in March 2020, reports indicate reduced physical activity (PA), increased sitting time (ST), and higher stress in various groups. It remains uncertain if these patterns persist in college students. This study aimed to discover trends in vigorous PA (VPA), moderate PA (MPA), light PA (LPA), ST, and stress among college students from 2020 to early 2022, spanning 2 years.

Using a repeated cross-sectional design, this study involved three online surveys in Summer and Fall 2020, and Winter 2021, respectively. Participants recalled pre-COVID-19 information in the first two periods and reported current information during COVID in all three periods, outlining four time points: Before-COVID and During-COVID times 1, 2, and 3.

This study included 2163 students from a large Western university. All types of PA decreased from the start of the pandemic to late 2021; however, increases toward pre-pandemic levels in MPA and LPA were found in early 2022. Also, activity shifted from VPA to MPA and LPA. Although ST and perceived stress (PS) surged in the pandemic's first year, they began decreasing toward pre-COVID levels in early 2022.

The study indicates a decline in PA during the peak of the pandemic, followed by a recent return to almost pre-COVID levels. Additionally, elevated ST and PS in early pandemic have reduced by the third year. As society begins to live with a new COVID-normal, there must be adaptations to maintain PA and promote mental well-being.