Changes in Physical Activity among United Kingdom University Students Following the Implementation of Coronavirus Lockdown Measures

Alice Wickersham, Ewan Carr, Ryan Hunt, Jordan P. Davis, Matthew Hotopf, Nicola T. Fear, Johnny Downs and Daniel Leightley
Additional contact information
Alice Wickersham: Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
Ewan Carr: Biostatistics & Health Informatics, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
Ryan Hunt: King’s Sport, King’s College London, London SE1 1NP, UK
Jordan P. Davis: USC Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90015-2212, USA
Matthew Hotopf: Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
Nicola T. Fear: King’s Centre for Military Health Research and Academic Department of Military Mental Health, King’s College London, London SE5 9RJ, UK
Johnny Downs: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 8AZ, UK
Daniel Leightley: Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and resulting restrictions have significantly impacted physical activity levels. However, objectively measured changes in physical activity levels among UK university students during lockdown are understudied. Using data collected via remote measurement technology from a mobile physical activity tracker, this study aimed to describe the longitudinal trajectories of physical activity following the start of lockdown among students at a large UK university, and to investigate whether these trajectories varied according to age, gender, and ethnicity. Continuous physical activity data for steps walked per week ( n = 730) and miles run per week ( n = 264) were analysed over the first period of lockdown and subsequent restriction easing using negative binomial mixed models for repeated measures. Throughout the observation period, more steps were walked by males compared to females, and by White groups compared to all other ethnic groups combined. However, there was a gradual increase in the number of steps walked per week following the commencement of lockdown, irrespective of sociodemographic characteristics. For females only, there was a decrease in the number of miles run per week following lockdown. The long-term impact of the pandemic on physical health is unknown, but our results highlight changes in physical activity which could have implications for physical health.

Keywords: COVID-19; coronavirus; remote measurement technology; physical activity; longitudinal; university students; young adult; lockdown (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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