Authors' Affiliations

Margaret Johnson, Department of Sport, Exercise, Recreation, and Kinesiology, College of Education, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. Dr. Andrew Dotterweich, Department of Sport, Exercise, Recreation, and Kinesiology, College of Education, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.

Location

Culp Room 217

Start Date

4-6-2022 1:30 PM

End Date

4-6-2022 1:45 PM

Faculty Sponsor’s Department

Sport, Exercise, Recreation & Kinesiology

Name of Project's Faculty Sponsor

Andrew Dotterweich

Classification of First Author

Undergraduate Student

Competition Type

Non-Competitive

Type

Boland Symposium

Project's Category

Recreation and Leisure Studies

Abstract or Artist's Statement

In the United States, COVID-19-related restrictions included a stay-at-home order with the exception of essential services such as medical care, grocery shopping, etc. During this time, all universities transitioned to an online learning format. This study examined the impact of COVID-19 on physical activity lifestyle changes within a university community. This was a cross-sectional study in which assessed changes in lifestyle-related behavior during the Covid-19 pandemic, the amount of sedentary time spent each week, and the underlying reasons behind people’s decisions as to whether to engage in physical activity. The respondents (n=1536) The results of this survey (n=1536) showed that 52.2% were between 18 and 25 years of age, 87.4% Caucasian, 56.7% single and 67.7% female. The mean BMI was 25.8 with 2.6% underweight, 40.9% healthy weight, and 56.5% overweight or obese according to the CDC. Study results showed significant differences between Healthy weight and Obese and between Overweight and Obese with regard to lifestyle-related behavior with those having higher BMIs being affected most by COVID-19. This was the same trend seen with the Physical Activity Vital Sign (PAVS) which is a measure of time spent in physical activity. Underweight (m=265.2) and healthy weight individuals (m=262.5) spent more time being physically active. Lastly, those with healthy BMIs differed significantly from all other BMI categories with regard to the BREQ-3 Relative Autonomy Index suggesting that those with healthier BMIs felt greater autonomy with regard to exercise behavior.

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Apr 6th, 1:30 PM Apr 6th, 1:45 PM

The Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on Physical Activity and Health within United States University Population

Culp Room 217

In the United States, COVID-19-related restrictions included a stay-at-home order with the exception of essential services such as medical care, grocery shopping, etc. During this time, all universities transitioned to an online learning format. This study examined the impact of COVID-19 on physical activity lifestyle changes within a university community. This was a cross-sectional study in which assessed changes in lifestyle-related behavior during the Covid-19 pandemic, the amount of sedentary time spent each week, and the underlying reasons behind people’s decisions as to whether to engage in physical activity. The respondents (n=1536) The results of this survey (n=1536) showed that 52.2% were between 18 and 25 years of age, 87.4% Caucasian, 56.7% single and 67.7% female. The mean BMI was 25.8 with 2.6% underweight, 40.9% healthy weight, and 56.5% overweight or obese according to the CDC. Study results showed significant differences between Healthy weight and Obese and between Overweight and Obese with regard to lifestyle-related behavior with those having higher BMIs being affected most by COVID-19. This was the same trend seen with the Physical Activity Vital Sign (PAVS) which is a measure of time spent in physical activity. Underweight (m=265.2) and healthy weight individuals (m=262.5) spent more time being physically active. Lastly, those with healthy BMIs differed significantly from all other BMI categories with regard to the BREQ-3 Relative Autonomy Index suggesting that those with healthier BMIs felt greater autonomy with regard to exercise behavior.