Sedentary behavior and its association with health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study among university students
MacKenzie Yandle, Kenzie Kocher, Bruna Lynch
Introduction: Current scientific evidence has speculated that sedentary behavior (SB) may reduce health-related quality of life (HRQOL), but the extent to which this is true remains unknown. Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the association between accelerometer-measured SB and HRQOL among university students. Methods: The sample will consist of undergraduate university students, ages 18-20 years, enrolled in a University in the Southern region of the United States (Lander University, Greenwood, SC). Participants will be allocated into three groups: i) Activity (ACT): students participating in activity classes; ii) Wellness for Life (WFL): students enrolled in PEES 175 courses (Wellness for Life); iii) Control (CON): non-PEES students who are not enrolled in activity courses nor Wellness for Life courses. A sample size of 60 participants is expected (n= 20 participants per group). The ActiGraph GT3X+ triaxial accelerometer (ActiGraph, LLC, Pensacola, FL, USA) will be used to assess SB. The Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) will be used to assess HRQOL (eight scales: physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, bodily pain, general health perceptions, vitality, social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems, and mental health). Independent and dependent variables will be checked for normality using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Comparison between groups will be performed using independent sample t-tests for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical data. Binary logistic regression analysis will be conducted between independent and dependent variables. The level of significance will be set at 5% and analyses will be conducted using the SPSS software (IBM SPSS Statistics, version 26). Expected Results: We hypothesize that prolonged SB (e.g., screen viewing, smartphone use, and computer playing) will be associated with lower HRQOL in most, if not all, scales.
MacKenzie Yandle graduated from White Knoll High School in Lexington, South Carolina. She is currently a senior exercise science major at Lander University with an emphasis on pre-physician assistant. Her achievements include being a part of Lander University Women’s Soccer team, volunteering to do student-athlete EKGs, and interning at a physical therapy clinic and a dermatology office. She was on the PBC team of academic distinction and has received the Bill Bonds Jr scholarship and the Louise Hodges Hartzog Scholarship.
Kenzie Kocher graduated from Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. She is currently a junior in exercise science at Lander University, focusing on physical therapy. She is part of the acrobatics and tumbling team and has been on the academic honor roll through NCATA during her freshman and sophomore years. She has also received the PHA scholarship all throughout college. In the next semester, Kenzie will be interning at an outpatient physical therapy setting.