Sedentary Behaviors and Physical Activity of Italian Undergraduate Students during Lockdown at the Time of CoViD?19 Pandemic

Francesca Gallè, Elita Anna Sabella, Stefano Ferracuti, Osvalda De Giglio, Giuseppina Caggiano, Carmela Protano, Federica Valeriani, Eduardo Alfonso Parisi, Giuliana Valerio, Giorgio Liguori, Maria Teresa Montagna, Vincenzo Romano Spica, Giovanna Da Molin, Giovanni Battista Orsi and Christian Napoli
Additional contact information
Francesca Gallè: Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Via Medina n. 40, 80133 Naples, Italy
Elita Anna Sabella: Inter-University Research Centre “Population, Environment and Health”, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza Umberto I, 1, 70121 Bari, Italy
Stefano Ferracuti: Department of Human Neurosciences, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Osvalda De Giglio: Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Giuseppina Caggiano: Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Carmela Protano: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Federica Valeriani: Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, Piazza Lauro De Bosis 15, 00135 Rome, Italy
Eduardo Alfonso Parisi: Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via di Grottarossa 1035/1039, 00189 Rome, Italy
Giuliana Valerio: Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Via Medina n. 40, 80133 Naples, Italy
Giorgio Liguori: Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Via Medina n. 40, 80133 Naples, Italy
Maria Teresa Montagna: Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Vincenzo Romano Spica: Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, Piazza Lauro De Bosis 15, 00135 Rome, Italy
Giovanna Da Molin: Inter-University Research Centre “Population, Environment and Health”, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza Umberto I, 1, 70121 Bari, Italy
Giovanni Battista Orsi: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Christian Napoli: Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via di Grottarossa 1035/1039, 00189 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-11

Abstract: Background : From March to May 2020, lockdown measures were adopted in Italy to contain the epidemic of the novel Coronavirus. People were forced to restrict their movement and social contacts, therefore having a higher risk of inactivity. This study, carried out among Italian undergraduates, explored their sedentary and physical activities (PA) during the lockdown with respect to their previous habits. Methods : An electronic questionnaire was administered once to students attending three Italian universities after the end of lockdown. Results : A total of 1430 students (mean age 22.9 ± 3.5 years, 65.5% females) completed the questionnaire. All the sedentary behaviors increased significantly, and all the physical activities decreased significantly during the lockdown. Time spent using electronic devices showed the highest increase (+52.4 min/day), and walking the greatest decrease (−365.5 min/week). Being younger than 22 years old, female, and previously active, attending the universities of Naples and Rome and having at least one graduate parent were associated with the achievement of recommended levels of PA even during the lockdown. Conclusions : This study highlights the reduction of PA among Italian undergraduates in the course of home-confinement due to the CoViD-19 pandemic. The practice of adequate PA during the lockdown was mainly associated with the previous adoption of an active lifestyle. Promoting active lifestyles during the non-pandemic period may have had positive effects also in case of lockdown.

Keywords: CoViD-19; lockdown; sedentary behaviors; physical activity; undergraduates (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (48)

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