The Impact of Covid-19 Restrictions on Physical Activity among Chinese University Students

A Retrospectively Matched Cohort Study

Bibliographic Data

ID15329652
AuthorsHongjun Yu (0000-0003-0692-5234, Hongjun Yu, Associate Professor, Department of Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China;, Email: [email protected], corresponding author), Yiling Song (Tsinghua University), Xiaoxin Wang (0000-0003-3381-8805, Tsinghua University), Mingzhong Zhou (Tsinghua University), Feng Xiao-lu (0000-0003-3947-2817, Tsinghua University), Xiaolu Feng (0009-0008-9146-7787, Tsinghua University), Yangyang Wang (0000-0001-5213-6506, Tsinghua University)
Year2022
Volume46
Issue3
Pages294-303
Publication date2022-06-23
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Health Behavior (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1087-3244 • E-ISSN: 1945-7359
PublisherPNG Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.5993/ajhb.46.3.8
PMID35794756
OpenAlexW4284693382
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited33

Objectives: In this study, we estimated the impact of COVID-19 on physical activity (PA) for Chinese university students during the pandemic period. Methods: The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was completed online by 1487 students (947 males and 513 females; age 19.72 ± 1.32 years, BMI = 21.12 ± 4.50) from one university in China during the pandemic period, and students retrospectively recalled pre-pandemic PA levels (March 29- April 15, 2020). We analyzed the data using a paired-samples t-test. Results: Overall, COVID-19 produced a 27.89% reduction in total weekly minutes (40.62) of vigorous PA, a 43.38% reduction in total weekly minutes (73.92) of moderate PA, and a 24.36% reduction in total weekly minutes of walking (44.69). Results by sex showed that moderate PA decreased the most, by 47.15% (males) and 37.13% (females), and total PA decreased by 48.29% (males) and 40.18% (females). Conclusions: COVID-19 led to a reduction in PA among Chinese university students. PA decreased more for male than female students. Public policy action might be needed to increase the level of PA of Chinese university students

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · China · Cohort · Cohort study · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Disease · Pandemic · Physical activity · Physical therapy · Public health · Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Demography · Health and Lifestyle Studies · Medicine · Physical Activity and Health · Gerontology · Internal Medicine