Association between changes in physical activity levels and depressive symptoms in high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5027/jmh-Vol19-Issue1(2022)art145

Keywords:

depressive symptoms, students, COVID-19, physical activity

Abstract

Objective: The study examined the association between depressive symptoms (DS) and perceptions of changes in the physical activity (PA) levels in high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: 186 students of a federal education institution from southern Brazil participated in the study. Perception of changes in the PA levels during the pandemic and the DS were collected through questionnaires in an electronic form. DS was scored and classified in low or increased depressive symptoms. Results: 60.8% of students showed increased depressive symptoms, being more frequent (75.6%) among girls (p<0.05). Regarding the PA levels during the COVID-19 pandemic, 70.4% of students reported a reduction in general PA, 54.3% to light PA, 67.2% to moderate PA, and 72.0% to vigorous PA, being the decrease in light and moderate PA more frequent among girls (p<0.05). Students who reported unfavorable changes in PA during the COVID-19 pandemic are about three times more likely to present increased depressive symptoms (p<0.05). Conclusion: Therefore, this result indicates that PA reduction levels during the pandemic are associated with higher DS among high school students at a federal educational institution in southern Brazil.

Author Biographies

Gicele de Oliveira Karini da Cunha, Federal Institute of the South of Rio Grande do Sul, Campus Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.

Physical Education degree at the Federal University of Pelotas (2003-2007).

Master's dregree in Physical Activity and Health at the University of Porto (2007-2009).

Doctorate in Physical Education in progress at the Federal University of Pelotas (2019-2023).

Gabriel Barros da Cunha, Federal Institute of the South of Rio Grande do Sul, Campus Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.

Physical Education degree at the Federal University of Pelotas (2002-2006).

Master's dregree in Sports Science at the University of Porto (2006-2008).

Doctorate in Physical Education in progress at the Federal University of Pelotas (2019-2023).

Tiago Wally Hartwig, Federal Institute of the South of Rio Grande do Sul, Campus Bagé, Bagé, Brazil.

Physical Education degree at the Federal University of Pelotas (2005-2008).

Master's dregree in Physical Education at the Federal University of Pelotas (2011-2012).

Doctorate in Physical Education in progress at the Federal University of Pelotas (2020-2024).

Gabriel Gustavo Bergmann, Federal University of Pelotas, Physical Education College, Pelotas, Brazil.

Physical Education degree at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. (1999-2003).

Master's dregree in Human Movement Science at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (2005-2006).

Doctorate in Human Movement Science at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (2007-2009).

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Published

2022-01-31

How to Cite

1.
da Cunha G de OK, da Cunha GB, Hartwig TW, Bergmann GG. Association between changes in physical activity levels and depressive symptoms in high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journ. M. Health [Internet]. 2022 Jan. 31 [cited 2024 Nov. 24];19(1). Available from: https://jmh.cl/index.php/jmh/article/view/145

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 1 (2022)

Section

Research Articles

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Copyright (c) 2022 Journal of Movement & Health

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