Center of Sport and Health Sciences, School of Education, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Department of Sport, Food and Natural Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway.
PLoS One. 2023 Jun 23;18(6):e0286345. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286345. eCollection 2023.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on our lives and society, influencing both individuals' lifestyles and habits. Recent research shows that anxiety and loneliness have continued to rise, along with changes in food and lifestyle choices. The aim of the study was to investigate whether the pandemic influenced food choices and consumption of energy drinks, alcohol, fruits, and vegetables among first-year university students. Additionally, assessing the relationship between mental and physical health, physical activity, and food choices. A total of 128 male and 128 female first-year students at the University of Iceland were invited to answer an electronic questionnaire in January and early February 2021. A total of 118 students (54% men) participated in the study and valid answers were 115 (46% participation rate). Almost half of the students (44%) experienced that their food choices had worsened, while 14% reported an improvement, compared to before the pandemic. Consumption of caffeinated beverages increased for 26% of students, while 19% experienced a decrease. Just over half of the students reported not drinking alcohol (13%) or reduced consumption (41%). Participants who reported that their mental health had deteriorated or remained the same tended to spend less time on physical activity and experienced worsened food choices (p<0.05). Similarly, those who spent less or the same time on physical activity estimated that their food choices had deteriorated (p<0.05). The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the lifestyles of university students and this study has revealed how lifestyle choices and mental health seem to be highly affected by one another. Additionally, the potentially harmful effects of excessive intake of energy drinks need to be enhanced. Interestingly, about 40% of the respondents in the current study drank less alcohol during the pandemic than prior to the pandemic, indicating a strong relationship between alcohol drinking and social gatherings. This study reveals the importance of educating young people on healthy lifestyle choices and the importance of mental health needs to be emphasised.
COVID-19 大流行对我们的生活和社会产生了深远的影响，影响了个人的生活方式和习惯。最近的研究表明，焦虑和孤独感持续上升，同时食物和生活方式的选择也发生了变化。本研究旨在调查大流行是否影响了一年级大学生的食物选择和能量饮料、酒精、水果和蔬菜的消费，以及评估心理健康和身体健康、身体活动和食物选择之间的关系。冰岛大学邀请了 128 名男性和 128 名女性一年级学生回答一份电子问卷，时间是 2021 年 1 月和 2 月初。共有 118 名学生（54%为男性）参加了这项研究，有效答案为 115 份（参与率为 46%）。几乎一半的学生（44%）表示他们的食物选择恶化了，而 14%的学生表示有所改善，与大流行前相比。26%的学生饮用含咖啡因的饮料增加，而 19%的学生饮用含咖啡因的饮料减少。超过一半的学生报告不饮酒（13%）或减少饮酒量（41%）。报告心理健康恶化或保持不变的参与者往往花更少的时间进行身体活动，食物选择也变差（p<0.05）。同样，那些花更少或相同时间进行身体活动的人估计他们的食物选择变差（p<0.05）。COVID-19 大流行对大学生的生活方式产生了重大影响，本研究揭示了生活方式选择和心理健康是如何相互影响的。此外，需要加强对能量饮料过度摄入的潜在有害影响的认识。有趣的是，当前研究中约 40%的受访者在大流行期间饮酒量低于大流行前，这表明饮酒与社交聚会之间存在很强的关系。本研究揭示了对年轻人进行健康生活方式选择教育的重要性，需要强调心理健康的重要性。
