Association of heart rate variability and lifestyle during mobility restriction in Japanese college students: a cross-sectional study.

This article examines the association between heart rate variability (HRV)-based sympathetic nervous system activity, lifestyle factors, and psychological stress in Japanese college students during COVID-19-related mobility restrictions. Using wearable ECG devices, the study compared physiological and behavioral data on sedentary days spent at home versus active days involving exercise with college sports clubs. Results showed higher HRV-estimated stress and sitting time on sedentary days, with stress positively correlated to negative psychological states and inversely correlated to physical activity and frequency of red meat consumption. The findings suggest that HRV-based stress assessment can effectively reflect psychological stress and autonomic function, highlighting the potential benefits of maintaining physical activity and certain dietary habits to mitigate stress during periods of restricted mobility.