The impact of change in health behaviours on mental wellbeing in students during lockdown.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 reached the United Kingdom in the early months of 2020, causing the country to go into lockdown. The lockdown restricted the population to interacting with others, meaning all non-essential businesses had to close in order to combat the virus. Due to these restrictions, there has been an impact in health behaviours including physical activity, diet, sleep and alcohol consumption. It is still unsure whether these impacts have been positive or negative. Through the use of quantitative data this study will investigate the health behaviour changes that undergraduate students experienced and its impact on mental wellbeing during lockdown. Methods: A quantitative research method was used through the use of the Healthand Behaviour Survey. This method assessed the main health behaviours of physical activity, diet, sleep and alcohol consumption. Hypothesis: Due to the recent findings on the impacts that lockdown has had on the adult population it appears more likely that the results will show a negative change in health behaviours on mental wellbeing. However, due to the previous studies not focusing on the student population a hypothesis has been made that there will be a more spread variety of positive impacts that impact had on student in lockdown. Discussion: This study will help provide details on the impact that lockdown really has had on students and whether it was positive or negative. The findings of the study will help plan interventions in the future if any form of lockdown was to happen again, regarding different health behaviours and the impacts they have on mental wellbeing.