Association between the Physical Activity Behavioral Profile and Sedentary Time with Subjective Well-Being and Mental Health in Chilean University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Daniel Reyes-Molina, Jesús Alonso-Cabrera, Gabriela Nazar, Maria Antonia Parra-Rizo, Rafael Zapata-Lamana, Cristian Sanhueza-Campos and Igor Cigarroa
Additional contact information
Daniel Reyes-Molina: Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
Jesús Alonso-Cabrera: Departamento de Matemáticas y Estadística, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla 081008, Colombia
Gabriela Nazar: Departamento de Psicología y Centro de Vida Saludable, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
Maria Antonia Parra-Rizo: Departamento de Psicología de la Salud, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03202 Alicante, Spain
Rafael Zapata-Lamana: Escuela de Educación, Universidad de Concepción, Los Ángeles 4440000, Chile
Cristian Sanhueza-Campos: Escuela de Educación, Universidad de Concepción, Los Ángeles 4440000, Chile
Igor Cigarroa: Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Los Ángeles 4440000, Chile

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: Objective: To analyze the association between the behavioral profile of physical activity and sedentary time with subjective well-being and mental health in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile. Methods: Cross-sectional study in a voluntary sample of 469 university students (22.4 ± 0.19 years; 66% women). According to students’ self-reports of physical activity and sedentary time, four behavioral profiles were created to investigate their association with subjective well-being and mental health using one-factor ANOVA that was adjusted to a multifactorial model. Results: The physically inactive and sedentary behavior profile presents the lowest levels of subjective well-being ( p < 0.001), positive affective experiences ( p < 0.001) and general mental health ( p = 0.001). When adjusting for confounding variables, it was observed that the physically active and non-sedentary profile was associated with better general mental health ( p < 0.01) in contrast to those who are physically active and sedentary. Conclusions: Chilean university students with a physically inactive and sedentary profile during the pandemic presented worse well-being and mental health, with a sedentary lifestyle being one of the variables that most affects the mental health of these students. Therefore, measures should be implemented to encourage this population to maintain adequate levels of physical activity and reduce sedentary times.

Keywords: COVID-19; physical activity; subjective well-being; mental health; university students (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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