Factors associated with perceived changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior in the Brazilian university community during the COVID-19 pandemic
Factors associated with perceived changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior in the Brazilian university community during the COVID-19 pandemic
Blog Article
Objective: This study aimed to identify the prevalence and factors associated with perceived changes in physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) during the COVID 19 pandemic within the university community.Methods: It is an observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted with the academic community of higher education institutions in Brazil.A structured and validated questionnaire was utilized, and multinomial logistic regression was applied with a 95% confidence interval.
Results: A total of 4,809 individuals participated (65.8% women and 74.0% students).
It was observed that 44.6% (n= 2,136) perceived a reduction in PA, and 74.2% (n = 3,549) perceived an increase in SB.
Women aged 40 and over and men in social isolation were less likely to be active (31.0% and 43.0%, respectively).
Women with a good (OR = 3.33; 95% CI: 2.22 - 4.
99) or fair health perception (OR = 1.98; 95% CI: Wooden Toy 1.30 - 3.
04) and men with a good health perception (OR = 2.38; 95% CI: 1.35 - 4.
20) were more likely to be active.The likelihood of higher SB was lower among women with a good health perception (58.0%) or aged 30–39 (34.
0%) or 40+ (50.0%), and among men with a good health perception (61.0%) or aged 30–39 (42.
0%) or 40+ (54.0%).Increased SB likelihood was higher among women in isolation (OR = 1.
71; 95% CI: 1.25 - 2.34), isolated for two or more months (OR = 1.
43; 95% CI: 1.10 - 1.85), or with a room per capita trikes ratio of 1.
20 (OR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.13 - 2.
01); and among men in isolation (OR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.10 - 2.
34), isolated for two or more months (OR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.02 - 1.
96), and living in the Northeast (OR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.20 - 4.
57) or Southeast (OR = 2.96; 95% CI: 1.47 - 5.
96) regions of Brazil.Conclusion: The pandemic led to a perceived increase in SB and a decrease in PA, especially among older women, those in isolation, and those with limited living space, as well as among men in isolation.