scholarly journals Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Lifestyles of Health Sciences University Students in Spain: A Longitudinal Study

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1958
Author(s):  
Idoia Imaz-Aramburu ◽  
Ana-Belén Fraile-Bermúdez ◽  
Batirtze San Martín-Gamboa ◽  
Silvia Cepeda-Miguel ◽  
Borja Doncel-García ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted daily activities worldwide. University students may have experienced substantial changes in daily living as a result of restrictions on university attendance. The return to normalcy may take a long time, and understanding the influence that shifts in daily routines have had on the lifestyles of university students may inform approaches to support overall well-being. We analyzed changes in the lifestyles of students enrolled at a health sciences university during the COVID-19 pandemic. This longitudinal study took place at the Faculty of Medicine and Nursing in the University of the Basque Country in Spain, and the final sample consisted of 113 nursing students, 109 medical students, and 45 physiotherapy students. Our results demonstrate changes in lifestyles of university students during the pandemic. MedDiet adherence scores and the percentage of students with high adherence increased during the pandemic. This increase was due to the increased consumption of vegetables and nuts. In terms of physical activity, the practice of moderate and intense physical activity was maintained. These results provide important information for both public health authorities and educational institutions to guide strategies to maintain the well-being of students and enhance opportunities for young adults to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Retos ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 979-987
Author(s):  
Yisel Pinillos Patiño ◽  
Enny Oviedo Argumedo ◽  
Roberto Rebolledo Cobos ◽  
Yaneth Herazo Beltrán ◽  
Patricia Valencia Fontalvo ◽  
...  

  El estilo de vida es concebido como un comportamiento cotidiano y que permanece en el tiempo, el cual evidencia los patrones individuales de conducta de una persona; además, y está determinado por factores sociales, culturales y personales. La etapa universitaria se constituye en este sentido, en una oportunidad para promover la modificación de hábitos por conductas saludables. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar los estilos de vida en estudiantes universitarios y las diferencias según el sexo y el estatus socioeconómico. Se realizó un estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo de corte transversal con 508 universitarios a quienes se les aplicó una encuesta auto administrada sobre sus condiciones sociodemográficas, mientras que los estilos de vida fueron evaluados mediante el cuestionario de Perfil del Estilo de Vida de Pender II (PEVP-II). Se observó que solo el 24,02% (n=122) de la muestra controla frecuentemente los niveles de azúcares y de grasas el 21,85% (n=111), en su alimentación; más del 20% (n=102) no realiza actividad física, entre el 20 (n=102) y 30% (n=152) no regulan los azúcares o incluyen frutas y vegetales en sus dietas; los promedios inferiores al 60%(n=305) en los factores asociados contemplados en el estudio, infieren que los encuestados no mantienen un estilo de vida saludable. En el período de la vida universitaria, el estilo de vida está influenciado por cambios de comportamientos asociados a la formación personal, al entorno familiar y al contexto cultural y social en que desarrolla cada individuo. Los bajos niveles de práctica de actividad física y la presencia de hábitos considerados riesgosos en la dimensión nutricional, pueden estar relacionados con los estilos de vida, y propiciar el desarrollo de enfermedades no transmisibles que conllevan a incrementar la morbilidad y mortalidad en las etapas del curso de la vida del ser humano.  Abstract. Lifestyles are everyday behaviors that show an individual's way of life and are usually maintained over time. The university stage is an important period to establish healthy habits for the rest of life. The objective of the study was to determine the lifestyles of university students and the differences according to sex and socioeconomic status. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 508 university students to whom a self-administered survey was applied on their sociodemographic conditions, while their lifestyles were evaluated using the PEVP-II questionnaire. It was observed that only 24.02% of the sample frequently controlled the levels of sugars and fats, 21.85%, in their diet; more than 20% do not perform physical activity, between 20 and 30% do not regulate sugars or include fruits and vegetables in their diets; the averages lower than 60% in the associated factors contemplated in the study, infer that the respondents do not maintain a healthy lifestyle. Finally, it is concluded that low levels of physical activity practice and the presence of habits considered risky in the nutritional dimension, may be related to lifestyles, making this identification in the university environment can help decision-making for design of intervention strategies supported in the well-being of students.


Author(s):  
Yolanda Marcén-Román ◽  
Angel Gasch-Gallen ◽  
Irene Isabel Vela Martín de la Mota ◽  
Estela Calatayud ◽  
Isabel Gómez-Soria ◽  
...  

Today’s COVID-19 situation can affect university Health Sciences students’ psychological health. This study aimed to analyze the stress caused by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Health Sciences students from the University of Zaragoza (Spain) almost 1 year after the pandemic began. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with a sample of 252 university students who completed a self-administered online questionnaire. It evaluated the impact of perceived stress with a modified scale (PSS-10-C), and assessed anxiety and depression on the Goldberg scale. Students presented stress (13.1%), anxiety (71.4%) and depression (81%). Females (81.7%) and the third-year Occupational Therapy students (p = 0.010) reported perceived stress. Nursing students perceived less stress (OR: 0.148; 95% CI: 0.026 to 0.842). University students developed stress and anxiety due to COVID-19 almost 1 year after the pandemic began. Psychological support measures for these groups should be prioritized.


2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 132-138
Author(s):  
Anastasiya A. Khablova ◽  
Galina N. Bondar’ ◽  
Pavel F. Kiku ◽  
Natal’ya S. Tumanova ◽  
Valentina N. Rasskazova ◽  
...  

Human health, in addition to social and spiritual well-being, is determined by its physical condition, which reflects the functional capabilities of the body, features of physical development and ensures working capacity in any activity, including academic workload, which is extremely important for students in higher educational institutions. The purpose of the study is to assess the health status of students at the School of Biomedicine of the Far Eastern Federal University. Material and methods. The health status of 184 medical students (147 young women and 37 young men) was assessed using a sociological survey (questionnaire) and a study of the component composition of the body using bioimpedancemetry. Results. The low physical activity, detected in 68% of students and bad habits (smoking tobacco) have been established to negatively affect students’ health. Among smokers, 75% of students live in dormitories on the university campus. According to the results of bioimpedancemetry, significant deviations from the age norm were noted in terms of body mass index (BMI) (50% of cases) and fat mass (FM) (71% of cases). Significant gender differences in the individual components of the body were not identified. Discussion. The most aggressive factors that significantly affect the health of students are unbalanced nutrition, lack of compliance with the regime of study and rest, lack of sleep and stay in the fresh air, lack of physical activity, lack of motivation for a healthy lifestyle. Significant deviations in BMI and FM, identified by bioimpedancemetry, indicate the risks of developing arterial hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and nutritional status disorders. Medical students need to give recommendations for increasing motor activity and changing diet. Conclusion. The results of the study can be used in the future to determine the functional state of students and develop preventive measures to preserve the health of medical students.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abigail Bradley ◽  
Andrea Howard

The current study used device-logged screen time records to measure week-to-week within-person associations between stress and smartphone use in undergraduate students (N = 187, Mage = 20.1) during Fall 2020, focusing on differences across types of app used and whether accumulated screen use each week predicted end-of-week mood states. Participants uploaded weekly screenshots from their “Screen Time” settings display and completed surveys measuring stress, mood, and COVID-19 experiences. Results of multilevel models showed no week-to-week change in smartphone hours of use or device pickups. Higher stress levels were not concurrently associated with heavier smartphone use, either overall or by type of app. Heavier smartphone use in a given week did not predict end-of-week mood states, but students who tended to spend more time on their phones in general reported slightly worse moods—a between-person effect potentially reflecting deficits in well-being that are present in students’ offline lives as well. Our findings contribute to a growing scholarly consensus that time spent on smartphones tells us little about young people’s well-being.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-79
Author(s):  
Victoria А. Dmitrieva ◽  
◽  
Kristina S. Kharlova ◽  

Substantiates the effectiveness of using the «Melodance» technique as a means of physical activity that increases well-being, activity and mood, improves physical condition and the desire for a healthy lifestyle. The results of our own research have shown that the Melodance technique has a wide potential as a means of physical activity and strengthening the physical and psychological health of a person, as well as forming an attitude towards a healthy lifestyle. The prospects for the application of this technique are shown.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. eaax2615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Whillans ◽  
Lucía Macchia ◽  
Elizabeth Dunn

How does prioritizing time or money shape major life decisions and subsequent well-being? In a preregistered longitudinal study of approximately 1000 graduating university students, respondents who valued time over money chose more intrinsically rewarding activities and were happier 1 year after graduation. These results remained significant controlling for baseline happiness and potential confounds, such as materialism and socioeconomic status, and when using alternative model specifications. These findings extend previous research by showing that the tendency to value time over money is predictive not only of daily consumer choices but also of major life decisions. In addition, this research uncovers a previously unidentified mechanism—the pursuit of intrinsically motivated activities—that underlies the previously observed association between valuing time and happiness. This work sheds new light on whether, when, and how valuing time shapes happiness.


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 101558 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sánchez-Oliva ◽  
Irene Esteban-Cornejo ◽  
Carmen Padilla-Moledo ◽  
Alejandro Pérez-Bey ◽  
Óscar L. Veiga ◽  
...  

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