University Students’ Physical Activity During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic influenced a variety of health issues—including physical activity (PA). College students are a particularly interesting population to examine because the pandemic influenced their living space, education experience, access to gyms, and proximity to work-out buddies. The purpose of this study was to use the social ecological theory to examine how COVID-19 influenced PA levels of college students, as well as to examine the facilitators and barriers to exercise. This study uses a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study to examine college students’ PA during COVID-19. The study draws on 489 completed surveys and twenty semi-structured interviews to examine PA experiences during COVID-19. Results indicate that overall PA levels for college students decreased during the initial phase of the pandemic. However, this was due to a multitude of factors that unfolded on multiple levels, including individual factors, interpersonal relationships, communities, and societal decisions. Understanding the complexity of PA participation is needed during precarious times such as pandemic restrictions to help keep university students active for physical and mental health.