Analysing the Effect of Lockdown on Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Emotional Wellbeing Among Young Medical Students of India During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affected all population segments, including students switching to online classes and negligible outdoor activities during the lockdown period. However, the data is limited on medical students’ lifestyle changes regarding physical and mental health during the lockdown. Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the effect of lockdown on physical activity, screen time and emotional wellbeing of young medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted on 250 medical students of phase-I MBBS during the lockdown period during October and December 2020. The students self-reported their physical activity, screen time usage, and emotional health status using Google Forms. Physical activity was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the emotional status was determined using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) Questionnaire. After removing incomplete data, only 174 students’ responses were analyzed using SPSS-20, and P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The physical inactivity of the medical students was 24.7%, and their average screen usage was six hours/day during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical activity in terms of metabolic equivalent scores explains a 5% rise in positive emotions and a 2% decline in negative emotions. Screen time usage expands negative emotions (9% variance) and reduces positive emotions (7% variance). Conclusions: Students with more physical activity and less screen time usage presented a more positive effect on emotions, and the rear trend was observed for their counterparts. Thus, physical inactivity and increased screen time usage have emerged as major and independent risk factors for students’ emotional health.