The study was published in 2026 in the Asian Journal of Healthcare Analytics and offers valuable insight into student health behavior during one of the world’s largest public health crises.
The Covid-19 outbreak, which emerged globally at the end of 2019, forced governments to impose social distancing policies and restrict public activities. Indonesia implemented large-scale social restrictions and encouraged learning from home to reduce virus transmission. These measures raised concerns that reduced mobility would lead to declining physical activity and increased health risks.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has long warned that physical inactivity contributes to major non-communicable diseases. Even before the pandemic, Indonesian health data showed relatively low physical activity levels among the population. Pandemic-related restrictions were expected to worsen this condition.
Against this backdrop, researchers from Syiah Kuala University examined the physical activity patterns of first-year students residing in the university dormitory.
The study was conducted in November 2021 and analyzed using a cross-sectional observational approach involving 247 students. Researchers collected data through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), distributed online through Google Forms.
The findings revealed that moderate physical activity dominated student behavior during the pandemic.
Key findings include:
- 83 percent of students reported moderate physical activity
- 11.7 percent performed heavy physical activity
- 5.3 percent had light physical activity
- 77.7 percent of respondents were female
- 60.7 percent had normal body mass index (BMI)
- Students from the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education represented the largest respondent group at 20.2 percent
The study also reported that most participants were approximately 18 years old. Male students had an average body weight of 54.18 kilograms, while female students averaged 51.15 kilograms. Average height reached approximately 1.6 meters among males and 1.5 meters among females.
One of the most notable findings was the absence of a statistically significant relationship between gender and physical activity levels. The researchers found that male and female students demonstrated broadly similar activity patterns during the pandemic.
Likewise, body mass index showed no meaningful relationship with physical activity levels. Students categorized as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese did not significantly differ in their physical activity patterns.
According to Husnah and colleagues from the Faculty of Medicine at Syiah Kuala University, this pattern may reflect the diversity of students’ academic backgrounds and daily activities. Online learning, prolonged gadget use, and changes in lifestyle during social restrictions likely shaped student behavior.
Despite these findings, the researchers emphasized the continuing importance of physical activity for overall health. Moderate exercise supports immune function, improves mental well-being, and helps reduce depression and stress—issues that became increasingly prominent during the pandemic.
The study carries implications for universities and public health policy. It demonstrates that students can maintain healthy physical activity levels even under restricted conditions when awareness and environmental support are present.
For higher education institutions, the findings reinforce the importance of promoting active lifestyles alongside academic achievement. Campus sports programs, health education, and physical activity initiatives remain relevant beyond the pandemic era.
Author Profiles:
Fadhilatur Raihan is a researcher from the Faculty of Medicine at Syiah Kuala University with interests in public health and student health behavior.
Yusni is an academic at the Faculty of Medicine, Syiah Kuala University, specializing in health and medical research.
Husnah is a lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Medicine, Syiah Kuala University, focusing on public health, healthy lifestyle behavior, and student health studies.
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