Changes in Sleep and Dietary Habits among Indian High School Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown

Abstract

The COVID-19 lockdown resulted in substantial disruptions to adolescents’ daily routines, potentially influencing key lifestyle behaviours such as sleep and dietary habits. The present study aimed to examine changes in sleep patterns and eating behaviours among Indian high school students by comparing self-reported behaviours before and during the COVID-19 lockdown. A retrospective within-subject quantitative design was employed. Data were collected through an online survey from 127 participants who were enrolled in Classes 9–12 during the lockdown period. Participants retrospectively reported their pre-lockdown and during-lockdown behaviours using the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire–Short Form (DEBQ-short). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and paired-samples t-tests were used for analysis. Results indicated a significant increase in insomnia-related symptoms during the lockdown compared to the pre-lockdown period, whereas no significant changes were observed in emotional, external, or restrained eating behaviours. These findings suggest that while adolescents’ sleep patterns were adversely affected during the lockdown, dietary habits remained relatively stable, possibly due to structured family meal practices. The study highlights the importance of promoting healthy sleep routines among adolescents during periods of large-scale societal disruption.