The gripping coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has imposed dramatic changes to many areas of daily living in all sectors of society across the world. We examined the relationship between perceived stress and health behaviors among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online survey with measures of psychological stress, physical activity and exercise, and sleep and social connectedness was distributed in June and July of 2020. The survey was completed by 550 college students (mean age: 21.3 ± 3.8 years, 74.2% female, 94.4% Caucasian). Being female and unemployed and having a lower annual income were significantly associated with higher levels of stress. In addition, regression analysis found that reduced exercise and sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly predicted the levels of stress of participants after controlling for gender, employment status, and annual income. University officials should aim to implement health-promotion strategies directed at preventing reductions in exercise and sleep duration, especially in those at greater risk of increased perceived stress such as females and economically disadvantaged students.

Marital status mediates an association between physical activity (PA) and TV time with health outcomes. However, population-based studies have revealed that the health effect of marriage or divorce is age-dependent and differs between women and men. The study aimed to identify the age and sex-related associations between marital status with PA and TV time. We used data from Vigitel, an annual telephone survey started in 2006 in Brazil. We applied a complex sample logistic regression model to estimate the odds for PA and TV time comparing marital statuses according to age and sex subgroups, independent of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, self-assessed poor health, and smoking. Our sample included 561,837 individuals from 18 to 99 years, with a TV time > 3 h/day (prevalence = 25.2%) and PA > 150 min/week (prevalence = 35%). Later, we divided our sample in seven age groups by marital status and sex. Compared to single individuals, married men and women were less likely to watch TV more than 3 h/day in participants >30 years old. When compared to single, married participants were less likely to do more than 150 min of PA/week at younger age groups. Married women older than 40 years were more likely to do more than 150 min of PA/week than the single ones, while there were no differences among married men by age group. In conclusion, our study suggests that the investments in public policies to encourage the practice of PA and reduction of TV time could be based on the marital status, sex, and age, prioritizing less active groups.

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted chaotic changes in the daily lives of K-12 teachers, resulting in increased stress and other mental health problems. Limited evidence regarding the relationship between physical activity, sleep, and perceived stress among teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic exists. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the association between physical activity, sleep quality, and perceived psychological stress among teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online survey measuring physical activity, sleep quality, and perceived psychological stress was distributed across 47 US states between September and October of 2020. Data provided by 635 teachers (mean age: 42 ± 18 years, 74.6% female) were included in the present analysis. Results suggested a negative association between physical activity and perceived psychological stress. Mediation analyses indicated that teachers engaging in high levels of physical activity were more likely to have good quality sleep and, in turn, were less likely to report high levels of perceived stress. Physical activity and sleep-related interventions could help curtail the rising levels of psychological distress amongst K-12 teachers during stressful times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers, especially those that self-report as female and/or young, report high levels of stress. These high levels of stress are a serious challenge for school districts in terms of attracting and retaining qualified teachers in K-12 classrooms.

The aim was to evaluate the changes in the prevalence of physical inactivity in the Brazilian adults from 2009-2017. This study used a time-series research design based on the cross-sectional data of 462,498 Brazilian adults from 2009-2017. Participants were classified as physically inactive if they indicated not participating in physical activity in the last three months. The Prais-Winsten regression analyzed physical inactivity trends over time. The overall prevalence of physical inactivity was stable (p>0.05). Physical inactivity increased for women in four state capitals (annual growth rate: Goiânia 1.62%, Campo Grande 3.28%, Porto Velho 0.93%, and Vitória 2.09%) and decreased in one (annual growth rate: Rio Branco 4.50%). Physical inactivity decreased for men in four state capitals (annual growth rate: Campo Grande 4.72%, Natal 2.73%, São Luís 4.94%, and Rio Branco 2.95%). The physical inactivity among the Brazilian adults was stable between 2009 and 2017. Physical inactivity increased in women from Goiânia, Campo Grande, Porto Velho, and Vitória and decreased in women from Rio Branco and in men from Campo Grande, Natal, São Luís, and Rio Branco.

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é verificar a associação do estado nutricional e da atividade física com a percepção de satisfação da imagem corporal em uma amostra de adolescentes de Curitiba/PR. Compuseram a amostra 844 adolescentes entre 11 a 17 anos. O nível de atividade física foi avaliado pelo Questionário de Atividade Física para Adolescentes. A percepção da imagem corporal foi avaliada pela Escala de Figura de Silhueta e pelo Body Shape Questionnarie. A associação do estado nutricional e do nível de atividade física com a satisfação com a imagem corporal foi realizada através da regressão logística multinominal para obtenção da razão de chances com intervalo de confiança de 95% e p<0,05. O sobrepeso/obesidade esteve associado positivamente com a insatisfação com a imagem corporal (IIC) moderada e grave para meninas (RC: 6,20; IC95%: 2,62 - 14,66 e RC: 6,20; IC95%: 4,10 - 9,36) e meninos (RC: 1,95; IC95%: 1,06 - 3,59 e RC: 3,91; IC95%: 2,57 - 5,95) e com o desejo de diminuir a silhueta para meninos e meninas (RC: 4,86; IC95%: 3,37 - 7,00 e RC: 6,46, IC95%: 4,12 - 10,14). O nível de atividade física não se mostrou associado com a IIC. Adolescentes com sobrepeso e obesidade apresentam maior chance de reportarem IIC. A atividade física não esteve relacionada com a IIC.