Back to normal? physical activity levels of u.s. college students from 2019 to 2022

PURPOSE: COVID-19 impacted college students uniquely due to relocating, virtual learning, and social separation. The importance of physical activity is noted in the literature; but students may have experienced a change in physical activity levels due to these factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the apparent impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity levels among college students. METHODS: Data were collected from students enrolled in general health and wellness courses at a large, public, northeastern university in the U.S. from three cohorts: (1) 2019 - 2020; (2) 2020 - 2021; (3) 2021 - 2022. An emailed online survey assessed student demographics (age, gender/sexual identity, and race/ethnicity) and physical activity (PA) level using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. One-way ANOVAs examined differences in weekly minutes of moderate (MPA) and vigorous (VPA) PA levels across cohorts by gender and sexual orientation. RESULTS: Participants (n = 4127) had a mean age of 20.4 ± 2.3 years, and were predominantly women (59.3%), Non-Hispanic (NH) White (72.9%), and heterosexual (85.9%). For all students, VPA was not significantly different across cohorts, while weekly MPA minutes did show a strong significant difference F(2, 4134) = 16.68, p < 0.001), with the lowest weekly MPA minutes in 2020 - 2021. Within women, weekly VPA minutes approached significance across cohorts, F(2, 2328) = 2.80, p = 0.06), while weekly MPA minutes did show strong significance (F(2, 2315) = 10.98, p < 0.001), with the lowest weekly MPA minutes in 2020 - 2021. Within sexual minorities, weekly VPA minutes was not significantly different across cohorts; however, weekly MPA minutes did show significance F(2, 564) = 5.67, p = 0.004), with the lowest weekly MPA minutes in 2020 - 2021. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that MPA was impacted by the pandemic whereas VPA was not. Women and sexual minorities reported significantly lower MPA during the pandemic. As these groups continue to be less active compared to their counterparts, future research is needed to address the disparities faced to promote sufficient physical activity during a formative life stage.