Physical Activity, Nutritional Habits, and Sleeping Behavior in Students and Employees of a Swiss University During the COVID-19 Lockdown Period: Questionnaire Survey Study

Jan Taeymans, Eefje Luijckx, Slavko Rogan, Karin Haas, Heiner Baur, Jan Taeymans, Eefje Luijckx, Slavko Rogan, Karin Haas, Heiner Baur

Abstract

Background: The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 led to the COVID-19 pandemic starting in January 2020. The Swiss Federal Council prescribed a lockdown of nonessential businesses. Students and employees of higher education institutions had to install home offices and participate in online lectures.

Objective: The aim of this survey study was to evaluate lifestyle habits, such as physical activity (PA), sitting time, nutritional habits (expressed as median modified Mediterranean Diet Score [mMDS]), alcohol consumption habits, and sleeping behavior during a 2-month period of confinement and social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey participants were students and employees of a Swiss university of applied sciences.

Methods: All students and employees from Bern University of Applied Sciences, Department of Health Professions (ie, nursing, nutrition and dietetics, midwifery, and physiotherapy divisions) were invited to complete an anonymous online survey during the COVID-19 confinement period. Information on the lifestyle dimensions of PA, sitting time, nutritional and alcohol consumption habits, and sleep behavior was gathered using adaptations of validated questionnaires. Frequency analyses and nonparametric statistical methods were used for data analysis. Significance was set at 5% α level of error.

Results: Prevalence of non-health-enhancing PA was 37.1%, with participants of the division of physiotherapy showing the lowest prevalence. Prevalence of long sitting time (>8 hours/day) was 36.1%. The median mMDS was 9, where the maximal score was 15, with participants of the division of nutrition and dietetics being more adherent to a Mediterranean diet as compared to the other groups. Prevalence of nonadherence to the Swiss alcohol consumption recommendations was 8.3%. Prevalence of low sleeping quality was 44.7%, while the median sleeping duration was 8 hours, which is considered healthy for adult populations.

Conclusions: In the group analysis, differences in PA, sitting time, and mMDS were observed between different divisions of health professions as well as between Bachelor of Science students, Master of Science students, and employees. Therefore, public health messages regarding healthy lifestyle habits during home confinement should be more group specific. The results of this study may provide support for the implementation of group-specific health promotion interventions at universities in pandemic conditions.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04502108; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04502108.

Keywords: COVID-19; healthy lifestyle; pandemics; public health; universities.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

©Jan Taeymans, Eefje Luijckx, Slavko Rogan, Karin Haas, Heiner Baur. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (http://publichealth.jmir.org), 13.04.2021.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Box plots of the physical activity scores (summed metabolic equivalent [MET] min/week scores) per health profession division of a Swiss university of applied sciences during the spring 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. Whiskers indicate 1.5 × IQR unless truncated at the lowest score. Asterisks and circles represent values outside this range. E_D: nutrition and dietetics; HEB: midwifery; PFL: nursing; PHY: physiotherapy.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Box plots of the physical activity scores (summed metabolic equivalent [MET] min/week scores) for students and employees (n=650) of a Swiss university of applied sciences (health professions) during the spring 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. Whiskers indicate 1.5 × IQR unless truncated at the lowest score. Asterisks and circles represent values outside this range. BSc: Bachelor of Science students; EMP: employees; MSc: Master of Science students.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Box plots showing the daily sitting times (in minutes) among students and employees (n=761) from four divisions of a Swiss university of applied sciences during the spring 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. Left: daily sitting times per health profession division. Right: daily sitting times per group of students and employees. Whiskers indicate 1.5 × IQR unless truncated at the lowest score. Asterisks and circles represent values outside this range. BSc: Bachelor of Science students; E_D: nutrition and dietetics; EMP: employees; HEB: midwifery; MSc: Master of Science students; PFL: nursing; PHY: physiotherapy.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Box plots of the eating habits, measured using the modified Mediterranean Diet Score (mMDS), of students and employees (n=771) in each health profession division of a Swiss university of applied sciences during the spring 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. Whiskers indicate 1.5 × IQR unless truncated at the lowest score. Circles represent values outside this range. E_D: nutrition and dietetics; HEB: midwifery; PFL: nursing; PHY: physiotherapy.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Box plots of wake-up time of students and employees (n=796) from the Bern University of Applied Sciences, Department of Health Professions during the spring 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. Whiskers indicate 1.5 × IQR unless truncated at the lowest score. Circles represent values outside this range. BSc: Bachelor of Science students; EMP: employees; MSc: Master of Science students.

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