Estilo de vida de estudantes universitários no período da pandemia de COVID-19: o desafio para a promoção da saúde

Abstract

Introduction: Lifestyle is a multidimensional concept that includes physical activity, nutrition, social relationships, behavior, job satisfaction, and perception of the world. It can affect health and be a protective factor. Many studies examine the lifestyle of university students and promote actions to improve their quality of life through interventions. Objectives: To analyze the lifestyle of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic in a public university located in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, and to identify the interpersonal relationships between students and their families and friends during the pandemic, describe the patterns of behaviors related to personal introspection, stress, job satisfaction, and sexual practices, and analyze the changes in physical activities, sleep, diet, alcohol consumption, and use of non-prescription drugs. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional, population-based study with an intentional and quantitative sample. It was carried out through a validated online questionnaire called "Fantastic Lifestyle." Data collection took place between May and December 2021. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and questionnaire scores analysis, both carried out with the support of SPSS software. Results: Among the general population, the questionnaire score was 61.18 +/- 10.29. It was observed that 39% of the students had people to give and receive affection. Approximately 43% of the students reported never being vigorously active for at least 30 minutes, and 16% also reported not engaging in moderate-intensity physical activities. About 25% of the students indicated that they almost never consumed a balanced diet, and 51% of the sample reported the consumption of caffeine-containing beverages up to twice a day. Current and daily tobacco consumption was limited to 8% of the sample. The weekly pattern of alcohol consumption among university students in the sample revealed that 87.7% of the subjects consumed up to 7 doses of alcohol weekly during the pandemic, while 3.2% reported consuming more than 20 doses. Approximately 55% of the students reported feeling tired even after sleep, and 22% indicated not knowing how to deal with daily stress. About 14% of the sample indicated that they almost always perceive feelings of anger and hostility. However, the students remained optimistic and with positive feelings during the studied period, with a prevalence of these feelings being 42%. Regarding work, 62% of the students indicated that they almost always feel satisfied. Conclusion: Despite the objective analysis, a limitation of the study is the impossibility of comparison between the pandemic and pre-pandemic periods, due to the exclusive data collection of the pandemic phenomenon and the lack of equivalence with other study events. With the return of face-to-face activities, physical and mental recovery has become an urgent issue of public health, given the uncertainty of the post-pandemic future. Public and institutional health promotion policies on university campuses are necessary as a relevant public investment, considering the social and educational responsibility of public universities in society.