University Student’s Lifestyle Changes During COVID-19 Lockdown: A Spanish Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has an impact on the university student’s lifestyles. The present study aims to investigate the perceived changes in lifestyles among Spanish university students during the confinement. Method: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study with a 2-time cut was conducted during the month of April in 2020. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data was then obtained. The FANTASTIC questionnaire was used to assess lifestyles of the 488 participants who took part in the study. The STROBE cross-sectional reporting guidelines were followed on this study. Results 76.3% of the participants were female. Overall, the lifestyles of university students had significantly deteriorated during the period of confinement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. University female students have been especially affected compared to their male fellows (p = .010). For women, social and family relationships (p < .001), personality (p < .001), interior (p < .001) and career (p < .001) were the aspects that worsened during confinement. For men, lack of physical exercise practice (p < .001), social and family relationships (p < .001) and career (p = .002) were affected to a greater extent. In both cases confinement was a protective factor against the consumption of tobacco, toxins (p < .001) and alcohol (p < .001). Gender (p = .008) and obesity (p = .044) are the two factors that most affected the change in the score of the FANTASTIC questionnaire. Conclusions The Spanish university students’ lifestyles have worsened during the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially women who were the most affected. Some aspects such as those related to social and emotional behaviors have been deeply affected, while confinement could be a protective factor against previous toxic habits.