Mediating effect of emotional distress on the relationship between noncommunicable diseases and lifestyle among Brazilian academics during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective

This study aims to investigate the association between noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and lifestyle, and to examine the mediating effect of emotional distress on this relationship, among university professors and students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using baseline data from a larger cohort study involving 671 professors and 1652 students from Brazilian universities. Participants were recruited via emails, social media, and messaging apps. The study included individuals over 18 who were registered in a university course or were active university professors during the pandemic isolation restrictions. Data were collected through virtual questionnaires covering health, mental health, dietary habits, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and sleep. Structural equation models (SEM) were used to test the associations of interest.

Results

The presence of NCDs among students was observed to be associated with greater emotional distress (β: 0.12; p: 0.003). Furthermore, both professors (β: −0.59, p: <0.001) and students (β: −0.82, p: <0.001) demonstrated an inverse association between emotional distress and a healthy lifestyle, which indicates that higher emotional distress was linked to a poorer healthy lifestyle. Additionally, an indirect inverse association was observed between NCDs and healthy lifestyle, when mediated by emotional distress in the student’s group (β: −0.10, p: 0.004).

Conclusion

This study provides new insights into the complex interplay between NCDs, emotional distress, and lifestyle among university professors and students during the pandemic. The results underscore the importance of integrating mental health support into interventions aimed at improving lifestyle and managing NCDs during health crises.