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Mental Health and Physical Activity in Health-Related University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to increased negative emotional states among students. Physical activity is known to have positive impacts on mental health and well-being. However, due to the closure of gyms and other recreational facilities as a restrictive measure, students' physical activity levels may decrease. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms and physical activity among health-related students during the second partial COVID-19 lockdown. The study included 823 students from the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health of the University of Osijek in Croatia. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the Godin-Shephard Leisure Time Questionnaire for Physical Activity (GSLTPAQ) questionnaires were used to assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms as well as physical activity. Two-thirds (59.2%) of students in health-related fields were insufficiently active, while the prevalence of depression (50.8%), anxiety (50.9%), and stress (49.9%) symptoms were high. Also, female respondents had significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress than their male counterparts. Graduate students had higher levels of all three negative emotional states, but only anxiety levels were significant. This study shows that students in health-related fields had reduced physical activity and a high prevalence of negative emotional conditions (depression, anxiety, and stress) during the second partial lockdown. The resulting symptoms were mostly of mild intensity; however, we consider this a significant mental health issue during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, it is crucial to control and support students' mental health, especially in more affected female individuals, in order to reduce the pandemic's negative impact.

SUBMITTER: Talapko J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8304952 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:The objective of this longitudinal study was to analyze changes in physical activity, sedentary time, sleep, anxiety, mood, and perceived health as a result of COVID-19 pandemic in a cohort of Spanish university students, both during the home confinement and one year after. Additionally, we analyzed the associations between physical activity, sedentary time, and other measured parameters. Data were collected through two online questionnaires that included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and self-reported anxiety, mood, and perceived health levels before, during and one year after home confinement. Participants reported decreased physical activity, increased sedentary time, and deterioration in sleep quality and perceived health during confinement. Most parameters had improved one year later; however, the participants still reported less physical activity, more sedentary time, and deterioration in sleep quality and perceived health compared to before confinement. Men reported greater reduction of physical activity during home confinement than women. In contrast, women reported reduced physical activity one year after confinement, whereas men reported increased activity. Participants reported higher anxiety and worse mood both during and one year post-confinement compared to pre-confinement, with women reporting higher levels of anxiety than men. Sports science students were closer to regaining pre-pandemic levels of physical activity one year post-confinement than students in other disciplines. Sleep, anxiety, and mood were worse among students with obesity compared to students in other BMI categories. Overall, increased physical activity and decreased sedentary time were associated with less anxiety and better sleep, mood, and perceived health during and one year post-confinement. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep, anxiety, mood, and perceived health were disrupted one year after home confinement. Higher levels of physical activity and lower sedentary time were associated with preserved sleep and mental health during the pandemic.

Project description:BackgroundLittle is known about the psychological impact of COVID-19 on university students during the disease outbreak in China, but this information is important for the development of services to support these students who are typically in their early 20s. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine university students' knowledge, attitudes, and mental health status during the COVID-19 pandemic in China.MethodsOn February 10, 2020 and during the second week of national lockdown, 511 students from a university in China were assessed using the COVID-19 General Information Questionnaire and the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) questionnaire. To understand the mental health status of the current sample, we compared it with the normal population.ResultsFour hundred and seventy-two valid questionnaires were collected. In total, 11% of respondents reported confirmed COVID-19 cases in their hometowns or communities. In view of students' knowledge about COVID-19, 56% had sufficient knowledge of typical symptoms of COVID-19, and 41% knew a lot about prevention methods for the future pandemic. In terms of the risk perceptions, 57% had experienced considerable fear of this disease, and 19% perceived a high risk of becoming infected. In terms of attitudes towards the COVID-19 pandemic, 63% felt positive about its development (i.e., it was generally under control), and 92% declared that they were willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The scores for somatization, obsessive-compulsive disorder, interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, and the general severity index were significantly increased compared with the norm (p < 0.001). However, no differences in the scores for depression, hostility and psychoticism were noted (p > 0.05).ConclusionUniversity students possessed insufficient COVID-19 knowledge and high-risk perceptions. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the mental health of university students. Social support and targeted interventions tailored to university students should be provided during such an outbreak, and university administration should strengthen the cultivation of students' mental toughness using standard teaching processes.

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Mental Health and Physical Activity in Health-Related University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

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