EFFECTS OF COVID-19 ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BEHAVIOR AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: RESULTS OF A HUNGARIAN ONLINE SURVEY

Abstract

Background. Due to COVID-19, social isolation and home confinement have changed daily behavior in Hungary since the pandemic hit in early 2020. This study aimed to examine physical activity (PA) patterns among young adults before and during distancing and lockdown safety measures. Material and methods. We recruited 827 students online across 10 faculties at the University of Pécs during April and May 2020. PA level (IPAQ-SF) and self-rated physical and mental health status were examined. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results. Students’ perceived mental health status proved to be worse than perceived physical health, while the percentage of individuals who did not engage in any sports decreased from 37.61% to 29.26%. Total PA levels and walking times were decreased, while sitting time significantly increased (p<0.001). A positive correlation was found between perceived physical health and total PA (R=0.215, p<0.001) as well as between perceived mental health and walking (R=0.091, p=0.009) and total PA (R=0.106, p=0.002). Conclusions. We found decreased amounts of PA among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic period, which highlights the need to promote a physically active lifestyle in cases of social restrictions.