Investigation of health-related lifestyle changes and supplement use habits among university students in turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic

Öz

Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to numerous lifestyle changes as a result of social distancing and isolation practices. This situation has posed challenges in managing several health-related components such as nutrition, sleep duration, physical activity, screen time, and stress levels. This study aimed to investigate the lifestyle changes caused by the pandemic and their effects on supplement use. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to university students across Turkey. Responses from 412 students enrolled in various departments at 71 different universities were evaluated. The study assessed students’ demographic characteristics, changes in sleep and exercise durations, stress levels, screen time, and the use of dietary supplements in response to these changes. Results: It was found that 35.2% of students used immune-supportive supplements (vitamins, 80.0%). Additionally, 6.3% used at least one product to cope with stress (SSRIs, 65.2%), and 33.5% used supplements for body shaping and exercise support (protein and amino acid supplements, 68.8%). Products were used by 9.7% of students to support sleep quality (herbal teas, 65.0%). For screen-time-related headaches, 29.6% of students used painkillers, while 11.4% used products for eye dryness or irritation (artificial tears, 87.2%). A significant relationship was found between changes in sleep quality and stress levels(p<0.001) and weight gain (p<0.01). Similarly, increased screen time was significantly associated with higher stress levels (p<0.001) and weight gain (p<0.001). Conclusion: In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant lifestyle changes among university students, affecting various health-related components such as sleep patterns, screen time, and stress levels. The findings of this study revealed that a significant proportion of students turned to immune-supporting vitamin supplements to cope with these changes.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• COVID-19
• lifestyle change
• supplement
• vaccine

COVID-19 pandemisi sürecinde Türkiye'deki üniversite öğrencilerinin sağlıkla ilgili yaşam tarzı değişikliklerinin ve takviye kullanım alışkanlıklarının incelenmesi

Öz

Amaç: COVID-19 pandemisi, sosyal mesafe ve izolasyon uygulamalarıyla birlikte birçok yaşam tarzı değişikliğine yol açmıştır. Bu durum; beslenme, uyku süresi, egzersiz miktarı, ekran karşısında geçirilen süre ve stres düzeyi gibi sağlıkla ilişkili birçok bileşenin yönetiminde zorluklar oluşturmuştur. Bu çalışmada, pandeminin neden olduğu yaşam tarzı değişiklikleri ve bu değişikliklerin takviye kullanımı üzerindeki etkilerinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: Türkiye’deki üniversitelerde öğrenim gören öğrencilere bir anket uygulanmıştır. 71 farklı üniversitenin çeşitli bölümlerinde okuyan 412 öğrencinin yanıtları değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışmada öğrencilerin demografik özellikleri, uyku ve egzersiz sürelerindeki değişiklikler, stres düzeyi, ekran karşısında geçirilen süre ve bu değişikliklere bağlı olarak besin takviyesi kullanımları incelenmiştir. Bulgular: Öğrencilerin %35.2’sinin bağışıklık destekleyici takviyeler kullandığı belirlendi (vitamin, %80.0). %6.3’ünün stresle başa çıkmak için en az bir ürün kullandığı gözlemlendi (SSRI, %65.2). Katılımcıların %33.5’inin vücut şekillendirme ve egzersizi desteklemek amacıyla takviye kullandığı belirlendi (protein ve amino asit takviyesi, %68.8). Öğrencilerin %9.7’sinin uyku kalitesini desteklemek amacıyla ürün kullandığı gözlemlendi (bitki çayı, %65.0). Ekran süresine bağlı baş ağrısı için öğrencilerin %29.6’sı ağrı kesici kullanırken, %11.4’ünün göz yanması/kuruluğu için ürün kullandığı belirlendi (yapay gözyaşı damlası, %87.2). Uyku kalitesindeki değişim ile stres (p<0.001) ve kilo artışı (p<0.01) arasında anlamlı ilişki saptandı. Benzer şekilde, ekran süresindeki artış ile stres düzeyinde artış (p<0.001) ve kilo alımı (p<0.001) arasında anlamlı ilişki belirlendi. Sonuç: Sonuç olarak, COVID-19 pandemisi üniversite öğrencileri arasında yaşam tarzında önemli değişikliklere neden olmuş ve bu durum uyku düzeni, ekran süresi ve stres düzeyi gibi çeşitli sağlıkla ilişkili bileşenleri etkilemiştir. Çalışmamız, öğrencilerin önemli bir kısmının bu değişimlerle başa çıkabilmek adına özellikle bağışıklığı destekleyici vitamin takviyelerine yöneldiğini ortaya koymuştur.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• COVID-19
• yaşam tarzı değişikliği
• takviye
• aşı

Etik Beyan

Bu çalışma T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı COVID-19 Bilimsel Araştırmalar Değerlendirme Komisyonu ve Acıbadem Üniversitesi Tıbbi Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu (ATADEK) tarafından onaylanmıştır (Karar No: 2021-14/48). Yalnızca bilgilendirilmiş onam formunu onaylayan katılımcılar ankete dahil edilmiştir.

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