Lifestyle in Undergraduate Students and Demographically Matched Controls during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain

María Giner-Murillo, Beatriz Atienza-Carbonell, Jose Cervera-Martínez, Teresa Bobes-Bascarán, Benedicto Crespo-Facorro, Raquel B. De Boni, Cristina Esteban, María Paz García-Portilla, Susana Gomes-da-Costa, Ana González-Pinto, María José Jaén-Moreno, Flavio Kapczinski, Alberto Ponce-Mora, Fernando Sarramea, Rafael Tabarés-Seisdedos, Eduard Vieta, Iñaki Zorrilla and Vicent Balanzá-Martínez
Additional contact information
María Giner-Murillo: Department of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Beatriz Atienza-Carbonell: Department of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Jose Cervera-Martínez: Department of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Teresa Bobes-Bascarán: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), 28007 Madrid, Spain
Benedicto Crespo-Facorro: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), 28007 Madrid, Spain
Raquel B. De Boni: Institute of Scientific and Technological Communication and Information in Health (ICICT), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
Cristina Esteban: Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, IBIS, 41013 Seville, Spain
María Paz García-Portilla: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), 28007 Madrid, Spain
Susana Gomes-da-Costa: Hospital Clinic, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, 08036 Catalonia, Spain
Ana González-Pinto: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), 28007 Madrid, Spain
María José Jaén-Moreno: Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain
Flavio Kapczinski: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Mood Disorders Program, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
Alberto Ponce-Mora: CMT-Motores Térmicos, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46002 Valencia, Spain
Fernando Sarramea: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), 28007 Madrid, Spain
Rafael Tabarés-Seisdedos: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), 28007 Madrid, Spain
Eduard Vieta: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), 28007 Madrid, Spain
Iñaki Zorrilla: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), 28007 Madrid, Spain
Vicent Balanzá-Martínez: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), 28007 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 15, 1-17

Abstract: Few studies have used a multidimensional approach to describe lifestyle changes among undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic or have included controls. This study aimed to evaluate lifestyle behaviors and mental health of undergraduate students and compare them with an age and sex-matched control group. A cross-sectional web survey using snowball sampling was conducted several months after the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. A sample of 221 students was recruited. The main outcome was the total SMILE-C score. Students showed a better SMILE-C score than controls (79.8 + 8.1 vs. 77.2 + 8.3; p < 0.001), although these differences disappeared after controlling for covariates. While groups did not differ in the screenings of depression and alcohol abuse, students reported lower rates of anxiety (28.5% vs. 37.1%; p = 0.042). A lower number of cohabitants, poorer self-perceived health and positive screening for depression and anxiety, or for depression only were independently associated ( p < 0.05) with unhealthier lifestyles in both groups. History of mental illness and financial difficulties were predictors of unhealthier lifestyles for students, whereas totally/moderate changes in substance abuse and stress management ( p < 0.05) were predictors for the members of the control group. Several months after the pandemic, undergraduate students and other young adults had similar lifestyles.

Keywords: lifestyle; undergraduate students; mental health; pandemic; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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