EXAMINING THE CHANGES IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION, SEDENTARY BEHAVIORS, AND EATING HABITS OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

2023-2
Öksüz, Güncem Dilan
During the COVID-19 pandemic, measures such as curfews and social distancing that will seriously change people's daily lives have been taken by the authorities to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection. This study aimed to examine the changes in physical activity (PA) participation, sedentary behaviors (SB), and eating habits of university students, one of the most affected populations of society by these changes, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was used in this study. Participants from different universities in Ankara were reached. There were 294 students surveyed online, and then 10 of whom also participated in the semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that the number of participants participating in physical activities such as walking, running, and team sports decreased, while participation in sports (workouts) that can be done at home increased. Besides, a considerable increase in sedentary behaviors was revealed, specifically in screen time. Moreover, it is possible to say that there is a decrease in the consumption of fast food, and participants preferred to consume more vegetables and fruits. However, participants’ snack consumption also increased. The findings clarified both the positive and negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students' PA participation, SB, and eating habits. This study emphasizes the need for strategies that can be developed by experts to increase university students' participation in physical activity and to reinforce their healthy eating habits in unusual situations, such as the COVID-19 outbreak and the spread of online education with developing technology.

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Citation Formats
G. D. Öksüz, “EXAMINING THE CHANGES IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION, SEDENTARY BEHAVIORS, AND EATING HABITS OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC,” M.S. - Master of Science, Middle East Technical University, 2023.