Evaluation of Physical Activity and Health Perceptions of University Students During the COVID-19 Process

Abstract

Purpose: While the COVID-19 pandemic has affected all segments of society, university students have also widely suffered the effects of this situation. Uncertainty, changes in education and training processes and the disrupted lifestyle due to the  estrictions have caused physical and psychological problems in students. The aim of our research is to retrospectively examine the changes in physical activity among university students caused by staying at home during the COVID-19 process and to evaluate their health perception during the pandemic process.

Methods: 161 university students studying in Istanbul participated in the research on a voluntary basis. The physical activities of the participants were evaluated with the accelerometers on their smartphones, and their health perception levels were evaluated with the "Health Perception Scale".

Results: A 57% decrease was observed in the physical activity of the participants within three months. Among the participants, the health perceptions of the people who had been hospitalized or had a family member hospitalized in the last month, and who had a chronically ill individual in their family were found to be significantly lower.

Conclusion: During the pandemic period, attention should be paid to the physical inactivity caused by the restriction measures and continuation of physical activity should be ensured with domestic exercises.