Physical Activity of College Students in A Small Southern City During the Pandemic.

Abstract

Physical activity is important for human health. During the Coronavirus pandemic, there has been a significant reduction in physical activity. The same happened for college students due to lockdowns and the disruption of normal life. While many universities and colleges are in small cities in the U.S., few studies have been conducted on college students in small cities in the U.S. This current study focuses on closing the gap of literature and examining the physical activity and health of college students in a small Southern city during the pandemic. The anonymous survey was conducted and data were analyzed using basic statistics and Chi-square analysis. Results suggest that more students realized the importance of exercise, but there is a disconnect between students' view of exercise and their daily actions. Findings from this study will add to the understanding of the previously identified gap and inform universities on what support they could provide in promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles to college students. Moreover, the findings could inform public health officials in preparing better public health policies in future health emergencies with awareness of their impact on health and physical activity. Finally, the findings can also help colleges improve their curriculum on physical education to address this widespread health issue.