ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine food insecurity (FI) prevalence among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2021) using cross-sectional design, and the moderating role of the first-generation student status in the relationship between FI and grade point average (GPA). PARTICIPANTS: Three-hundred sixty students recruited mostly from upper-level kinesiology courses. METHODS: General linear model was used to predict GPA based on food security status, psychological health, and bodily pain, with subgroup analysis performed by first-generation student status. RESULTS: Approximately 19% were classified as having FI. Those with FI showed lower GPA and poor health compared to those without FI. The link between FI and GPA was moderated by first-generation student status, with the negative impact of FI on GPA more clearly observed among non-first-generation students. CONCLUSION: First-generation student status could play a role in determining the impact of FI on academic performance.
ABSTRACT
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to sudden extreme changes in lifestyle, potentially causing adverse changes in physical activity, sedentary behavior, and dietary habits. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of COVID-19 quarantine on physical activity, dietary habits, and food insecurity among college students who were impacted by the quarantine periods and campus closures. The findings of the study will provide preliminary evidence on dietary, physical activity, and sedentary behavior changes induced by the pandemic among college students. Participants (n â= â403) completed a cross-sectional self-report online questionnaire, evaluating the physical activity, sedentary behavior, and dietary behaviors before- and during-COVID-19 campus closures (March-May 2020). Sociodemographic and descriptive information was also obtained from each participant. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to assess changes in physical activity, sedentary behavior, and dietary habits. McNemar's test was used to compare food insecurity changes. Data were presented as median and interquartile range. A total of 291 participants who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study (college-aged, 18-24 years). Physical activity decreased at vigorous (2 days/week to 1 day/week, p â< â0.001), moderate (4 days/week to 1 day/week, p â< â0.001), and light (4 days/week to 2 days/week, p â< â0.001) intensity levels, while sedentary behavior increased (4 âh/day to 7 âh/day, p â< â0.001) from pre-to during-COVID-19 quarantine period. Frequencies of meals at home and alcohol consumption increased (Z â= â-3.911 and Z â= â-4.022, p â< â0.001), while frequency of fruit consumption decreased (Z â= â-2.116, p â< â0.001) from pre-to during-COVID-19 quarantine period. Daily alcohol intake also increased during COVID-19 quarantine period (Z â= â-4.442, p â< â0.001). Lastly, the percentage of individuals reporting food insecurity significantly increased during COVID-19 quarantine (p â< â0.001). College-aged students in quarantine significantly decreased physical activity participation and increased sedentary behavior. Changes in dietary habits were observed, including increased meals at home, alcohol consumption, and decreased fruit consumption. Food insecurity also doubled among college-aged students during quarantine. Public health strategies to attenuate these changes in lifestyle habits should be implemented during a global pandemic.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Research translating the evidence for the benefit of mind-body exercise in older Latinos with limited access to community-based healthy aging programs is sparse. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of Function Improvement Exercises for Older Sedentary Community-Dwelling Latino Residents (FITxOlder), a Community Health Worker (CHW)-led, mobile technology-facilitated Chinese Qigong mind-body exercise program for healthy aging and to explore its impact on physical and cognitive function and quality of life (QoL) in older community-dwelling low-income Latino adults. METHODS: This study was designed as a Stage 1 feasibility study to develop and pilot-test FITxOlder. In Phase 1 (Stage 1A), a working group of seniors, CHWs, and senior center staff guided the adaptation of Chinese Qigong into a healthy aging program. In Phase 2 (Stage 1B), 49 older Latino adults participated in a 3-arm controlled study to test the feasibility and preliminary effect of CHW-led FITxOlder on physical and cognitive function and QoL measures over 16 weeks. RESULTS: Although the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the implementation of the study protocol, we found favorable results regarding participant recruitment, retention, and fidelity of implementation. Notable findings included an 89.3% participant retention, 79.4% of the participants completed at least 70% of the weekly exercise goal, and no report of adverse events. The effects on intervention outcome measures were modest. CONCLUSIONS: FITxOlder is feasible for promoting healthy aging in older Latino adults; future research needs to compare its feasibility with other low-impact exercise programs for healthy aging using a randomized controlled trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04284137; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04284137.