Impact of COVID-19 Confinement on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour in Spanish University Students: Role of Gender
Metadata
Show full item recordEditorial
MDPI
Materia
Pandemic COVID-19 International physical activity questionnaire Physical exercise Lockdown
Date
2021Referencia bibliográfica
Rodríguez-Larrad, A.; Mañas, A.; Labayen, I.; González-Gross, M.; Espin, A.; Aznar, S.; Serrano-Sánchez, J.A.; Vera-Garcia, F.J.; González-Lamuño, D.; Ara, I.; et al. Impact of COVID-19 Confinement on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour in Spanish University Students: Role of Gender. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 369. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph18020369
Sponsorship
High Sports Council (Consejo Superior de Deportes, CSD) of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Government of Spain 45/UPB/20; Basque Government (Eusko Jaurlaritza) PRE_2019_1_0373; Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation-MINECO RYC-2014-16938Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, entire populations were instructed to live in homeconfinement to prevent the expansion of the disease. Spain was one of the countries with the strictest conditions, as outdoor physical activity was banned for nearly two months. This study aimed to
analyse the changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours in Spanish university students
before and during the confinement by COVID-19 with special focus on gender. We also analysed
enjoyment, the tools used and motivation and impediments for doing physical activity. An online
questionnaire, which included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form and
certain “ad hoc” questions, was designed. Students were recruited by distributing an invitation
through the administrative channels of 16 universities and a total of 13,754 valid surveys were
collected. Overall, university students reduced moderate (−29.5%) and vigorous (−18.3%) physical
activity during the confinement and increased sedentary time (+52.7%). However, they spent more
time on high intensity interval training (HIIT) (+18.2%) and mind-body activities (e.g., yoga) (+80.0%).
Adaptation to the confinement, in terms of physical activity, was handled better by women than
by men. These results will help design strategies for each gender to promote physical activity and
reduce sedentary behaviour during confinement periods.