Objective: To test the association between physical activity and subjective stress in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that evaluated 195 university students (68.7% females; 44.6% aged between 21 to 25 years; 65.8% enrolled in a health sciences degree; 24.5% enrolled in the 1st to 3rd semester) aged 17 to 52 years. Data were collected during the first semester of 2021 in the city of Imperatriz, Maranhão, Brazil (Gini Index of 0.56). We collected data online using the Perceived Stress Scale (14-item) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short-version, 8-item). We assessed scores of positive and negative stress dimensions as outcomes (representing perceived self-efficacy and helplessness, respectively), while walking and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were the independent variables (in minutes/day). The potential confounding variables were biological sex; age; ethnicity; maternal education; degree program (health sciences degree or other undergraduate degree), shift (morning, evening, night or integral), time (≤ 3rd semester or > 3rd semester), number of classes enrolled and, hours of study per day. We assessed the associations using multilevel linear regression models. To retain variable in the multivariate model, we adopted a significance level of 80.0% (p ≤ 0.20). Results: After adjusting the models for biological sex, age, ethnicity, and degree program time, we observed that higher walking levels (β = 0.02 [95% CI 0.001 to 0.03]) were associated with higher scores on the positive dimension of perceived stress. However, we did not identify association between physical activity and negative dimension of perceived stress. Conclusion: Walking was associated with perceived stress. Thus, light physical activity may reduce perceived stress by increasing self-efficacy perception in university students from the low-income region during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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