College students’ physical activity drops during pandemic study shows

By Mikaela Graf | Contributor

Recent Augusta University graduate Olivia Maldonado started 2020 strong, continuing a 6-month streak of nearly daily gym attendance. The sudden onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent national lockdown interrupted her routine and led her to stop exercising altogether.

“Before, I was going to the gym five days out of the week,” said Maldonado. “As soon as the gym shut down, I stopped going, and I haven’t been back since.”

Maldonado is not alone in her struggle to maintain physical activity during the coronavirus pandemic.

A recent study conducted by researchers with the Department of Kinesiology at Pennsylvania State University found that among US college students, physical activity levels decreased, while stress levels and symptoms of depression increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study showed that moderate and vigorous physical activity levels in university males decreased by nearly 38%. To a lesser degree, female students experienced a 28.1% decrease in moderate activity and a 13.6% decrease in vigorous activity.

According to the study, “Any decline in [physical activity] or deterioration in mental health concerns among students would be cause for concern as [physical activity] is important for both physical and mental health, and mental health concerns (eg, anxiety, stress, depression) and noncommunicable diseases, such as hypertension and obesity were prevalent among students prior to the pandemic.”

The study stated that though physical activity was not a strong protector against decline in student mental health that occurred during the pandemic, regular exercise is still regarded as a valuable tool in preventing and treating mental health issues.

Additionally, the researchers said that maintaining sufficient physical activity levels during college is crucial, as the health habits formed during early adulthood can significantly affect a person’s course of health through later life.

Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic is still affecting the world, it is important for schools to encourage and provide resources for safe exercise for students, said the study.

The researchers urge universities to implement new ways to promote physical activity to students who receive their education solely online, as this phenomenon will likely become mainstream soon.

For Maldonado, lacking the resources and encouragement she needed to continue her routine exercise has continued to be a problem a year-and-a-half later.

“The consistency and accountability that I had before lockdown is not there anymore,” Maldonado said. “I fell into my old ways.”

For Augusta University students, the Campus Recreation Center on the Health Sciences campus is now open again for members and students seven days a week.

For information on other ways students can get active, even virtual students, visit www.augusta.edu/

At top of page, Olivia Maldonado tried goat yoga as an activity before the lockdown last year. (photo by Mikaela Graf)

Contact Mikaela Graf at mgraf@augusta.edu.

This story is published in the Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 print edition of The Bell Ringer.