Factors associated with perceived changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior in the Brazilian university community during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: This study aimed to identify the prevalence and factors associated with perceived changes in physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) during the COVID 19 pandemic within the university community. Methods: It is an observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted with the academic community of higher education institutions in Brazil. A structured and validated questionnaire was utilized, and multinomial logistic regression was applied with a 95% confidence interval. Results: A total of 4,809 individuals participated (65.8% women and 74.0% students). It was observed that 44.6% (n= 2,136) perceived a reduction in PA, and 74.2% (n = 3,549) perceived an increase in SB. Women aged 40 and over and men in social isolation were less likely to be active (31.0% and 43.0%, respectively). Women with a good (OR = 3.33; 95% CI: 2.22 - 4.99) or fair health perception (OR = 1.98; 95% CI: 1.30 - 3.04) and men with a good health perception (OR = 2.38; 95% CI: 1.35 - 4.20) were more likely to be active. The likelihood of higher SB was lower among women with a good health perception (58.0%) or aged 30–39 (34.0%) or 40+ (50.0%), and among men with a good health perception (61.0%) or aged 30–39 (42.0%) or 40+ (54.0%). Increased SB likelihood was higher among women in isolation (OR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.25 - 2.34), isolated for two or more months (OR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.10 - 1.85), or with a room per capita ratio of 1.20 (OR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.13 - 2.01); and among men in isolation (OR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.10 - 2.34), isolated for two or more months (OR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.02 - 1.96), and living in the Northeast (OR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.20 - 4.57) or Southeast (OR = 2.96; 95% CI: 1.47 - 5.96) regions of Brazil. Conclusion: The pandemic led to a perceived increase in SB and a decrease in PA, especially among older women, those in isolation, and those with limited living space, as well as among men in isolation.