Factors associated with changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviour during one year among university-based young adults

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify correlates of changes in physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) among university-based young adults in Bangladesh. Data were from a 1-year prospective study with 2 assessment points (baseline n ​= ​573, 20.7 ​± ​1.35 years, 45% female; retention rate 69%, analytical sample ​= ​395). Participants completed a self-administered written survey on PA, SB, health and lifestyle behaviours, and sociodemographics. Changes in PA were categorised as: negligible (± < 60 ​min/week), > 60 ​min/week decrease, or > 60 ​min/week increase. Changes in SB were categorised as negligible (± < 120 ​min/week), > 120 ​min/week decrease, and > 120 ​min/week increase. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to identify the correlates. About quarters (72%) of participants had insufficient PA at both assessment points. Of those who were sufficiently active at Wave 1, 5% became insufficiently active at Wave 2. One quarter of participants (23%) had high SB at Wave 1 and Wave 2. Of those who had low SB at Wave 1, 16% had high SB at Wave 2. Being male [OR ​= ​2.04 (95% CI: 1.06-3.93)], baseline phone time of > 2 h/day [OR ​= ​3.14 (95% CI: 1.04-7.04)] and not participating in organised sports at baseline [OR ​= ​2.56 (95% CI: 1.24-5.29) were associated with a decrease in PA by ​> ​60 ​min/week. Participants who frequently experienced stress at baseline had higher odds of increasing SB by ​> ​120 min/day [OR ​= ​1.83 (95% CI: 1.04-3.23)]. SB is more variable than PA over 1 year in university-based young adults in Bangladesh. Males, those with high phone time, those not engaging with organised sports, and those with frequent stress may change to a more inactive lifestyle.

Keywords

Developing country / Health behaviour / Health promotion / Longitudinal data / South Asia / University student

Ethical approval statement

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The University of Queensland Behavioural and Social Sciences Ethical Review Committee, Australia, provided ethical approval for the study (Ref: 2015000860; Amendment- 31/07/2015; Amendment 29/09/2016). Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Submission statement

The work described has not been published previously (except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture or academic thesis), it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, its publication is approved by all authors and tacitly or explicitly by the responsible authorities where the work was carried out, and that, if accepted, it will not be published elsewhere including electronically in the same form, in English or in any other language, without the written consent of the copyright-holder.

Authors’ contributions

RU designed the study, collected and analysed data and drafted the manuscript; AK conceived and designed the study, analysed data and helped drafting the manuscript; NWB conceived and designed the study and helped drafting the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript and agree with the order of presentation of the authors.

Conflict of interest

None to declare.

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