Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The present study investigated variance in overall quality of life in relation to a broad spectrum of correlates, including sociodemographic characteristics, health self-reports related to the COVID-19 pandemic, sedentary behavior, and habitual physical activity, as well as examined the relationship between habitual physical activity and quality of life domains in university students during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 4059 undergraduate students (1859 men). Data were collected between June and October 2020. The electronic questionnaire comprised four main domains: sociodemographic characteristics, self-reported health conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, sedentary behavior and physical activity level, and quality of life. RESULTS: Students reported a mean score of 58.3 (± 21.2) for overall quality of life (males: 59.7 ± 21.0; females: 57.2 ± 21.4, p < 0.001). Male students exhibited significantly higher scores than female students across all quality of life domains, with the exception of the social domain (p > 0.05). Notably, a set of variables was associated with higher quality of life scores across both sexes including having private health insurance, sleeping between 7 h and 9 h per night, and engaging in moderate or high levels of physical activity. Students classified as physically active associated with better perception in all quality of life domains across both sexes. CONCLUSION: While these findings are consistent with the existing literature, they further underscore the importance of addressing the interplay of sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health-related factors in strategies aimed at improving quality of life in university students during lockdown.