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Changes in Physical Activity among United Kingdom University Students Following the Implementation of Coronavirus Lockdown Measures

Author

Listed:
  • Alice Wickersham

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK)

  • Ewan Carr

    (Biostatistics & Health Informatics, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK)

  • Ryan Hunt

    (King’s Sport, King’s College London, London SE1 1NP, UK)

  • Jordan P. Davis

    (USC Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90015-2212, USA)

  • Matthew Hotopf

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
    South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 8AZ, UK)

  • Nicola T. Fear

    (King’s Centre for Military Health Research and Academic Department of Military Mental Health, King’s College London, London SE5 9RJ, UK)

  • Johnny Downs

    (South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 8AZ, UK
    Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK)

  • Daniel Leightley

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
    King’s Centre for Military Health Research and Academic Department of Military Mental Health, King’s College London, London SE5 9RJ, UK)

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and resulting restrictions have significantly impacted physical activity levels. However, objectively measured changes in physical activity levels among UK university students during lockdown are understudied. Using data collected via remote measurement technology from a mobile physical activity tracker, this study aimed to describe the longitudinal trajectories of physical activity following the start of lockdown among students at a large UK university, and to investigate whether these trajectories varied according to age, gender, and ethnicity. Continuous physical activity data for steps walked per week ( n = 730) and miles run per week ( n = 264) were analysed over the first period of lockdown and subsequent restriction easing using negative binomial mixed models for repeated measures. Throughout the observation period, more steps were walked by males compared to females, and by White groups compared to all other ethnic groups combined. However, there was a gradual increase in the number of steps walked per week following the commencement of lockdown, irrespective of sociodemographic characteristics. For females only, there was a decrease in the number of miles run per week following lockdown. The long-term impact of the pandemic on physical health is unknown, but our results highlight changes in physical activity which could have implications for physical health.

Suggested Citation

  • Alice Wickersham & Ewan Carr & Ryan Hunt & Jordan P. Davis & Matthew Hotopf & Nicola T. Fear & Johnny Downs & Daniel Leightley, 2021. "Changes in Physical Activity among United Kingdom University Students Following the Implementation of Coronavirus Lockdown Measures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-11, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:2792-:d:513993
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ana Rodríguez-Larrad & Asier Mañas & Idoia Labayen & Marcela González-Gross & Ander Espin & Susana Aznar & José Antonio Serrano-Sánchez & Francisco J. Vera-Garcia & Domingo González-Lamuño & Ignacio A, 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 Confinement on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour in Spanish University Students: Role of Gender," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-14, January.
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    3. Salvador Angosto & Rosendo Berengüí & José Miguel Vegara-Ferri & José María López-Gullón, 2020. "Motives and Commitment to Sport in Amateurs during Confinement: A Segmentation Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-20, October.
    4. Jacob Meyer & Cillian McDowell & Jeni Lansing & Cassandra Brower & Lee Smith & Mark Tully & Matthew Herring, 2020. "Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Response to COVID-19 and Their Associations with Mental Health in 3052 US Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-13, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alice Freiberg & Melanie Schubert & Karla Romero Starke & Janice Hegewald & Andreas Seidler, 2021. "A Rapid Review on the Influence of COVID-19 Lockdown and Quarantine Measures on Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors in the General Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-46, August.
    2. Elena Druică & Rodica Ianole-Călin & Monica Sakizlian & Daniela Aducovschi & Remus Dumitrescu & Robert Sakizlian, 2021. "Testing the Youth Physical Activity Promotion Model during the COVID-19 Pandemic, with Partial Least Squares Second-Order Latent Constructs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-15, June.

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