The effects of sedentary behavior types and physical activity on well-being in university youth during the pandemic: a pilot study.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sedentary behavior types and physical activity on well-being. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 428 university students. The study data were collected through online forms between March and April 2021: the Sociodemographic Characteristics and Activities Form, Sedentary Behaviour Questionnaire, Health Assessment Form, and World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index. Data were evaluated using descriptive statistics and decision tree analysis. Results: The average time spent sedentary in a day was 11.231±4.358 hours. The mean sedentary time spent mentally passive was 4.660±2.240 hours, and the time spent mentally active was 6.571±3.335 hours. A low positive correlation was observed between well-being score and weekly moderate and total moderate-to-high physical activity time, and a low negative correlation was observed with mentally passive sedentary time. According to decision tree analysis, students who rated their health status as worse than in the previous year and those who did not engage in any physical activity were more likely to be classified as individuals at risk in terms of well-being. In contrast, among those who reported no change in their health status, students who engaged in physical activity and had mentally passive sedentary time below 5.25 hours were less likely to be assigned to the risk group. Conclusion: To protect physical and mental health, measures should be taken to reduce sedentary time, especially mentally passive sedentary time, and to increase physical activity time.