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Correlations between Mental Health, Physical Activity, and Body Composition in American College Students after the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown

Author

Listed:
  • Luis Torres

    (Department of Exercise Science and Physical Education, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA)

  • Manuela C. Caciula

    (Department of Health and Exercise Science, New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ 07305, USA)

  • Alin S. Tomoiaga

    (Department of Accounting, Business, Analytics, CIS, and Law, Manhattan College, Bronx, NY 10471, USA)

  • Carmen Gugu-Gramatopol

    (Department of Physical Education and Mountain Sports, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brasov, Romania)

Abstract

Restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic had forced American college students to significantly reduce their daily energy expenditure and increase their sedentary behaviors, thus presumably increasing mental health symptoms, decreasing physical activity levels, and enhancing the promotion of unhealthy eating habits. This study aimed to explore the correlations between mental health symptoms, physical activity levels, and body composition in college students in the years following the pandemic, focusing on the lingering effects of lockdown measures. American college students completed pre-existing, well-validated surveys for both mental health (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Long Form). Body composition was assessed in person with the use of an Inbody 570 device. Of the 90 American college students ( M age = 22.52 ± 4.54, 50 females) who participated in this study, depressive and anxious symptom scores consistent with heightened symptomatology were reported by 58% of the participants ( N = 52), moderate borderline symptomatology by 17% ( N = 15), and asymptomatology by 25% ( N = 23). In regard to physical activity, 79% ( N = 71) of the students were highly physically active, 18% ( N = 16) were moderately active, and 3% ( N = 3) reported low levels of physical activity. Additionally, 46% ( N = 41) of the students maintained an unhealthy body fat percentage based on the World Health Organization recommendations. Strong, significant relationships were found between anxiety and depression symptomatology and body fat percentage (positive correlation, p = 0.003) and between anxiety and depression symptomatology and skeletal muscle mass (negative correlation, p = 0.015), with said symptomatology increasing with added body fat and decreasing with added skeletal muscle mass. The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions affected American college students through an increase in mental health symptomatology and a deterioration in overall body composition.

Suggested Citation

  • Luis Torres & Manuela C. Caciula & Alin S. Tomoiaga & Carmen Gugu-Gramatopol, 2023. "Correlations between Mental Health, Physical Activity, and Body Composition in American College Students after the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(22), pages 1-11, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:22:p:7045-:d:1277370
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    2. Maria Ferrara & Elisa Langiano & Lavinia Falese & Pierluigi Diotaiuti & Cristina Cortis & Elisabetta De Vito, 2022. "Changes in Physical Activity Levels and Eating Behaviours during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Sociodemographic Analysis in University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-17, May.
    3. Leonie de Munter & A J L M Geraerds & Mariska A C de Jongh & Marjolein van der Vlegel & Ewout W Steyerberg & Juanita A Haagsma & Suzanne Polinder, 2020. "Prognostic factors for medical and productivity costs, and return to work after trauma," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(3), pages 1-15, March.
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