Portrait of Post-Pandemic Lifestyle Habits of Canadian Students Entering Post-Secondary Education

Numerous studies have reported a disruption in the lifestyle habits (LsHs) of post-secondary students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the importance of LsHs for these young adults’ physical and mental health and academic success, it is pertinent to examine whether these changes were maintained beyond the public health crisis. As post-pandemic data on the LsHs of post-secondary students in Canada remain limited, the aim of this study is to provide an overview. In October 2023, data on six LsHs (physical activity, sedentary behaviour, diet, sleep, screen time, drug and alcohol use) were collected from 2,283 students at 14 post-secondary institutions in Quebec, Canada. The resulting portrait suggests that habits relating to physical activity, sedentary behaviours and alcohol and drug consumption are healthier than before and during the pandemic. However, eating habits and screen time appear to be less healthy than before and during the pandemic. Sleep patterns, which were disrupted during the pandemic, seem to be returning to pre-pandemic levels. These results are discussed in the light of plausible explanations and suggest possible interventions to consider.