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Nutrition Education and Behavioral Science (Poster Session)

(P26-004-24) Examination of Perceived Impact of Covid-19 and the Association With Body Composition, Physical Activity, and Body Weight in a College Student Sample

Monday, July 1, 2024
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM CT
Location: Poster Board 252

    Presenting Author(s)

  • CB

    Casen Bigham, BS (he/him/his)

    Graduate Student Researcher
    Texas Tech University, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Nutrition & Metabolic Health Initiative (NMHI)
    Lubbock, Texas, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • MB

    Martin Binks, Ph.D.

    Professor
    Texas Tech University
    Lubbock, Texas, United States

  • HY

    Hannah Yoo

    Texas Tech University, Texas, United States

Disclosure(s):
Casen Bigham, BS: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: Our understanding of college student perceptions related to the impact of Covid-19 on their lives remains somewhat limited. We sought to characterize that experience in several key areas.

Methods: Participants (N=40; 24% male; 18-25 yrs.) attended the baseline visit of a larger study in November of 2020. The perceived impact of Covid-19 was assessed via single self-report items in the following domains, 1) CiHM; Interference with health motivation, 2) PLG; Productivity on life goals, 3) OL; Overall learning, 4) Md; Mood, 5) HN; Hopefulness, return to normal, 6) CS; Covid-19 stress. General stress was measured via Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Weight and body composition were measured via BOD POD, physical activity via Binks Physical Activity Questionnaire (BPAQ). Data from subjects with complete data (n=38) was analyzed. Descriptive statistics were computed for Covid-19 items. Spearman’s rho was used to examine associations of CS and CiHM with weight, body composition, and BPAQ. Multiple linear regression modeled PSS and CS as predictors of weight, body composition, and BPAQ.

Results: Most (86.84%) participants reported that the COVID-19 pandemic at least somewhat affected CiHM, PLG, and Md. Education appeared to be the most impacted, with 94.74% of participants describing OL to be at least somewhat affected and 39.47% endorsing a great deal of interference with OL. There were no significant correlations of CiHM and CS with weight, lean mass, or physical activity. A low-to-moderate positive correlation was noted for CiHM with BF% (r (28) = .42, p = .008), but not for CS with BF% (p = .74). Multiple linear regression indicated that PSS and CS predicted total minutes of physical activity (b = -29.06, p = .019) with each additional unit increase in PSS associated with a weekly 29-minute reduction in physical activity. Regression models with PSS and CS predicting BF% and lean mass were not significant (p’s > .05).

Conclusions: College students in this study perceived that motivation for health, productivity, mood and learning were impacted during the pandemic. Furthermore, some support was found for an impact on health behavior (e.g., physical activity) and health (%BF). Follow up studies to determine longevity of these observations are warranted.

Funding Sources: This study was funded by Texas Tech University (PI Funds).