University students’ overall and domain-specific physical activity during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study in seven ASEAN countries
Issued Date
2022-12-01
Resource Type
ISSN
24058440
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85144794041
Journal Title
Heliyon
Volume
8
Issue
12
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Heliyon Vol.8 No.12 (2022)
Suggested Citation
Amornsriwatanakul A., Rahman H.A., Wattanapisit A., Nurmala I., Teresa O. de la Cruz M.H., Car J., Chia M. University students’ overall and domain-specific physical activity during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study in seven ASEAN countries. Heliyon Vol.8 No.12 (2022). doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12466 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/86357
Title
University students’ overall and domain-specific physical activity during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study in seven ASEAN countries
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
This research investigated the overall and domain-specific physical activity (PA) of university students in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A cross-sectional study was applied to socioeconomic (SE) and PA online data collected from 15,366 students across 17 universities in seven Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. Statistical analyses using logistic regressions established SE–PA relationships. Over half (60.3%) of ASEAN university students met age-span specific PA guidelines. Students participated in recreational PA the most, followed by study-related activities and 44.1% of students engaged in >8 hrs/day of sedentary time (ST). Compared to students with a normal body mass index (BMI), students who were underweight (UW), overweight (OW), and obese (OB) respectively, had a 14% (UW odds ratio (OR) = 1.14, p = 0.005), 25% (OW OR = 1.25, p < 0.001), and 24% (OB OR = 1.24, p = 0.005) greater probability of meeting PA guidelines. Those who engaged in active transport and belonged to a sports club (SC) had 42% (SC OR = 0.58, p < 0.001, for both) less probability of meeting the PA guidelines, compared with those who travelled inactively and did not belong to a sports club, respectively. Students who participated in 4–6 sport or exercise activities had ten times more likelihood of meeting PA guidelines (OR = 10.15, p < 0.001), compared with those who did not play any sport or do any exercise. Students who spent >8 hrs/day of ST had 32% (ST OR = 0.68, p < 0.001) less probability of meeting PA guidelines, compared with those who spent <3 hrs of ST. These data showed that over half of ASEAN university students achieved PA guidelines and were highly sedentary during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recreational and study-related activities were important for students to maintain sufficient PA and should be actively promoted within the restrictions imposed during periods of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.