Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Previous studies showed that the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown caused
changes in lifestyle habits. However, there is limited information regarding the effects after the
lockdown.
This study aimed to assess self-reported lifestyle changes during the COVID-19 pandemic among
students at the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (IPB)), Portugal.
This research is part of the Food Insecurity among European University Students during the COVID-19
Pandemic (FINESCOP) study.
METHODS: Students answered an online questionnaire on sociodemographic variables and lifestyle
changes, including eating habits. This study was conducted between April 4 and May 16, 2022. The
sample size was estimated using the Epidat 3.0 program, considering the total number of students
enrolled during the 2020/21 academic year.
RESULTS: The sample consisted of 377 students, 55.7% female, with a mean age of 23.1 ± 3.8 years.
Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (p=0.002), meat and/or eggs (p<0.001), and processed
meat (p=0.012) decreased. In the rest of the food groups, no significant differences were recorded.
Participants reported an increase in the time spent in front of the screen for work/study (p<0.001),
alcohol consumption (p=0.009), and smoking habits (p<0.001). Worsening sleep and poor physical
and psychological health were also observed (p<0.001).
Our findings revealed changes in lifestyle behaviors in students from the IPB
during the COVID-19 pandemic. Effective strategies are needed to promote healthy lifestyles in this
population.
Description
Keywords
COVID-19 Eating habits Lifestyle University students FINESCOP study Research Subject Categories::TECHNOLOGY::Chemical engineering::Food technology
Citation
Cortez-Ribeiro, Anna Carolina; Ferro-Lebres, Vera; Arroyo-Izaga, Marta; Torheim, Liv Elin; Almeida-de-Souza, Juliana (2022). Lifestyle changes among university students in Portugal during the COVID-19 pandemic: the finescop study. In 15º Congresso da SPCNA: Alimentação Humana. Porto
Publisher
Sociedade Portuguesa de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação