Changes in sedentary behavior and associations with anxiety in university students: repeated cross-sectional study.
Abstract Overview
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic-related confinements lead to a global increment in sedentary behavior(SB). However, excessive SB (≥960minutes/day) has been linked with adverse mental health outcomes. Although evidence suggests a relationship between SB and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-DSM-V), changes in SB during the pandemic and GAD risk in university students remains unclear.
Purpose: Our aims were to explore changes in SB and GAD risk across the pandemic in an Irish university and investigate how much SB was associated with GAD risk.
Methods: Data from a repeated measures cross-sectional electronic survey(annual:2019-2022) were analyzed. Measures included SB(IPAQ-SF), GAD(PDSQ) and demographic questions. After post-stratification weighting, one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey HSD post-hoc tests compared differences in SB(minutes) and anxiety scores(1-10) with iteration year. SB and GAD were dichotomized into high/low risk based on standardized criteria(SB≥960mins=high: GAD≥7=high). Logistic regression was conducted determining the overall association between SB and GAD risk, adjusting for demographics.
Results: The final sample (N=3221) were aged {mean(SD)}21.7(6.5) years with 50.5%(N=1628) identifying as female. Most were undergraduates (89%,N=2872) of middle socio-economic status (SES:43%,N=865). Results from one-way ANOVAs indicated statistically significant differences in SB and GAD across iterations. Tukey HSD results highlighted significant increases in SB between 2019(M=379.4, SD=156.3) and both 2020(M=486.6,SD=195,p<.001) and 2021(M=439.3, SD=192.1, p<.001). Similarly, GAD risk was significantly higher in 2020(M=5.6,SD=3.4,p<.001) and 2021(M=5.3,SD=3.7,p=.047) compared with 2019(M=4.8,SD=3.4), with no statistically significant differences in 2022. Results from the final regression model revealed that high SB levels(OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.09-1.65) and lower SES levels(OR .60, CI .46-.78) were associated with greater GAD risk.
Conclusion: SB and GAD risk were significantly higher during the pandemic confinements. The results emphasize targeting SB and SES in GAD prevention interventions.
Practical implications: While pandemic confinements are lifted, effect may still be present. This may be of interest to policymakers and health-care professionals.
Funding: University of Limerick
Additional Authors
Name: Sarah Kennedy
Affiliation: Healthy UL, University of Limerick
Presenting Author: no
Name: Catherine Norton
Affiliation: Healthy UL, Sports and Human Performance Research Centre, Physical Activity for Health Research Centre, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences,   Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX   
Presenting Author: no
Name: Audrey Tierney
Affiliation: Healthy UL, Health Research Institute, School of Allied Health, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland V94 T9PX  
Presenting Author: no
Name: Kwok Ng
Affiliation: 1. Physical Activity for Health Research Centre, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX   2.  Faculty of Education, University of Turku, Rauma, Finland, 26100  3.  Institute of Innovation and Sports Science, Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania, LT-44221 
Presenting Author: no
Name: Catherine Woods
Affiliation: Healthy UL, Physical Activity for Health Research Centre, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences,    Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX  
Presenting Author: no
Information
Study Type: Epidemiology
Subtheme: Mental Health
Population Group: Adults
Setting: Workplace, Whole System
Submitting Author
Aoife Noonan
PhD Student
University of Limerick
Ireland