Physical Activity and Screen Time among Hungarian High School Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic Caused Distance Education Period

Zsolt Bálint Katona, Johanna Takács, László Kerner, Zoltán Alföldi, Imre Soós, Tamás Gyömörei, Robert Podstawski and Ferenc Ihász
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Zsolt Bálint Katona: Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary
Johanna Takács: Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, Hungary
László Kerner: Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary
Zoltán Alföldi: Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary
Imre Soós: Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary
Tamás Gyömörei: Physical Education and Sports Centre, Széchenyi István University, 9026 Győr, Hungary
Robert Podstawski: Department of Tourism, Recreation and Ecology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Ferenc Ihász: Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-11

Abstract: Background: High school education took place in the form of distance learning during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic worldwide, including Hungary. Decreased physical activity and an increase in inactive behaviours may lead to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Aim: Our study targeted changes in physical activity (aerobic exercise, muscle strengthening) and screen time in adolescents and young adults during the pandemic. Methods: High school students were interviewed in 66 public schools in 37 Hungarian cities (N = 2508). Survey items on physical activity and screen time were derived from the WHO Health Behaviour of School-aged Children Survey and the Centers for Disease Control Youth Risk Behavior Survey. A 2 × 2 factorial ANCOVA was used to test the effects of gender (male vs. female) and/or age (adolescents vs. young adults) on the reported changes in physical activity and screen time before and during lockdown (covariate: BMI Z-score). Results: The majority of the cohort indicated less physical activity. Aerobic and muscle-strengthening type of exercises significantly decreased, and screen time increased during distance education. Male individuals showed a higher decrease in the level of aerobic exercise, and young adults reported a higher increase in the time spent in front of the screen.

Keywords: physical activity; screen time; healthy lifestyle; distance education; coronavirus (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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