Prevalence and correlates of adherence to the 24-h movement behaviours guidelines for adults in a sample of Nigerian University students

Abstract Background The Canadian 24-h movement guidelines for adults recommend at least 150 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), no more than 3 h of recreational screen time (ST), and 7–9 h of sleep per day. Instead of examining these behaviours individually, these integrated guidelines recognize that how individuals move, rest, and sleep within 24 h jointly influences physical, mental, and cognitive health. University students are particularly prone to poor movement behaviours due to academic and lifestyle pressures. While evidence of the importance of tracking these behaviours is growing globally, there is a dearth of data on adherence to 24-h movement guidelines among young adults in developing countries, including Nigeria. Understanding the prevalence and correlates of adherence in this population is crucial for designing culturally relevant approaches that enhance their well-being. This study assessed the prevalence of adherence to these guidelines among Nigerian university students and examined factors associated with meeting them. Methods This cross-sectional survey recruited 510 physiotherapy undergraduates (mean age: 21.33 ± 2.62 years; 62.4% female) from 8 Nigerian universities. PA, ST, sleep, and socio-demographics were assessed through validated questionnaires and profoma. Results Just 6.5% (95% CI: 4.5–9.0) of students ( females 7.5% [95% CI: 4.9–11.0]; males 4.7% [95% CI: 2.2–8.7]) met all three movement guidelines concurrently. About 38.6% (95% CI: 34.4–43.0), 41.0% (95% CI: 36.7–45.4) and 13.9% (95% CI: 11.0–17.2) of the sample met two, one and none of the guidelines, respectively. Among those who met two and one guidelines, MVPA and ST (23.5% [95% CI: 19.9–27.5]) and MVPA (25.1% [(95% CI: 21.4–29.1]) were the most prevalent. Meeting all three guidelines was weakly associated with age (χ2 = 4.186; p = 0.041; Phi and Cramer’s V = 0.091) and moderately associated with family income (χ2 = 7.156; p = 0.028; Phi and Cramer’s V = 0.118). Conclusion Adherence to 24-h movement guidelines is low among Nigerian university students. The adherence rate of students reduces with age and low family income. Compared to MVPA, fewer students meet ST and sleep guidelines. Thus, initiatives on improving sleep and reducing ST may help to increase meeting of the 24-h movement guidelines among university students.