Article
Lifestyle in Undergraduate Students and Demographically Matched Controls during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain
Registro en:
GINER-MURILLO, María et al. Lifestyle in Undergraduate Students and Demographically Matched Controls during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, v. 18, n. 15, 8133, July 2021.
1660-4601
10.3390/ijerph18158133
Autor
Giner-Murillo, María
Atienza-Carbonell, Beatriz
Cervera-Martínez, Jose
Bobes-Bascarán, Teresa
Crespo-Facorro, Benedicto
Boni, Raquel B. De
Esteban, Cristina
García-Portilla, María Paz
Gomes-da-Costa, Susana
González-Pinto, Ana
Jaén-Moreno, María José
Kapczinski, Flavio
Ponce-Mora, Alberto
Sarramea, Fernando
Tabarés-Seisdedos, Rafael
Vieta, Eduard
Zorrilla, Iñaki
Balanzá-Martínez, Vicent
Resumen
Few studies have used a multidimensional approach to describe lifestyle changes among
undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic or have included controls. This study
aimed to evaluate lifestyle behaviors and mental health of undergraduate students and compare
them with an age and sex-matched control group. A cross-sectional web survey using snowball
sampling was conducted several months after the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. A
sample of 221 students was recruited. The main outcome was the total SMILE-C score. Students
showed a better SMILE-C score than controls (79.8 + 8.1 vs. 77.2 + 8.3; p < 0.001), although these
differences disappeared after controlling for covariates. While groups did not differ in the screenings
of depression and alcohol abuse, students reported lower rates of anxiety (28.5% vs. 37.1%; p = 0.042).
A lower number of cohabitants, poorer self-perceived health and positive screening for depression
and anxiety, or for depression only were independently associated (p < 0.05) with unhealthier lifestyles
in both groups. History of mental illness and financial difficulties were predictors of unhealthier
lifestyles for students, whereas totally/moderate changes in substance abuse and stress management
(p < 0.05) were predictors for the members of the control group. Several months after the pandemic,
undergraduate students and other young adults had similar lifestyles.