ABSTRACT
Although both screen time (ST) and physical activity (PA) are associated with stress, independent and combined associations between ST and PA, and perceived stress among college students, have remained unclear. The present study included 1137 undergraduate medical students from a university in Shenyang, Northeast China. PA and perceived stress were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)-Long Form and the Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS), respectively. ST and students' characteristics were determined using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the independent t-test, Pearson Chi-squared test, and logistic regression. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, females reporting high ST (HST, ST > 6 h/day) were more likely to experience stress than those reporting low ST (LST, ST ≤ 6 h/day) (OR = 1.557), while those reporting light- and moderate-intensity PA (LMPA) were more likely to experience stress than those reporting vigorous-intensity PA (VIPA) (OR = 1.674). Analysis of the combined effects of PA and ST showed that, among female students, those reporting both LST and LMPA (OR = 2.174), both HST and VIPA (OR = 2.088), and both HST and LMPA (OR = 2.797) were more likely to experience stress compared to those reporting both LST and VIPA (the reference category). The present study confirmed that LST and VIPA were independently and concurrently associated with significantly lower stress among college students, suggesting that promoting PA and reducing ST might be an effective way to reduce perceived stress among college students.
Subject(s)
Exercise/psychology , Screen Time , Stress, Psychological , Students, Medical/psychology , Adolescent , Attitude , China , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Self Report , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: College life represents a key transitional period in the life of young adults that is marked by increased social engagement; living habits acquired during this period have implications on the future life of college students. Therefore, investigation of the determinants of health status of college students is a key imperative; however, there is limited evidence on the study of concomitant effects of physical activity (PA), sedentary time (ST), and sleep duration on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of college students. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted at a medical university in Shenyang in Northeast China in 2017. The study group comprised 926 undergraduate students. Data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire. PA, ST, sleep duration, and HRQOL were measured using the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ)-Long Form and the Chinese version of the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). The association of PA, ST, and sleep duration with the HRQOL was examined using independent t-test, Pearson Chi-squared test, and multivariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounding factors, students who reported high PA had significantly higher physical component summary (PCS) score in the total study population and among female students than those who reported low PA, whereas students who reported moderate PA had significantly higher PCS score only among female students (P < 0.05). In the total study population and among male students, students who slept for ≥9 h/day had significantly higher mental component summary (MCS) score than those who slept for 7-< 8 h/day, whereas among only male students, those who slept for 8-< 9 h/day had significantly higher MCS score (P < 0.05). The interaction term between ST and PA was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: PA and sufficient sleep duration had a positive impact on the HRQOL of college students; however, ST was not associated with HRQOL and there was no interaction between the impact of ST and PA on the HRQOL of college students. Increasing PA and promoting adequate sleep duration are key health promotion strategies for college students.
