Physical activity and well-being of students of faculties medical and non-medical services during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

Physical activity has a positive effect on the human body, well-being and mental health. This is confirmed by the results of studies which show that regular physical exercise has a beneficial effect not only on the cardiovascular, muscular and nervous systems, as well as on mental well-being. The Covid-19 pandemic, which affected society as a whole, changed our lives. The pandemic has a social and economic scope, increasing the number of stressful situations that affect well-being. Aim of the research: The aim of the undertaken research was to check the level of physical activity and well-being of medical and non-medical students during the pandemic. Material and methods: The research used the method of diagnostic survey, with the use of the proprietary questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) as well as a 36-point Health Survey were used. The research group consisted of students of medical and non-medical faculties. Results: The research confirmed a decrease in physical activity and a change in well-being in students of both faculties. The vast majority of students (80%) noticed a change in well-being during the pandemic. Half of the respondents (50%) undertake physical activity to improve their well-being, and over 60% of the students declared that physical activity helps them maintain their well-being during the pandemic. Conclusions: The results of the conducted research indicate a negative impact of the pandemic on the physical activity and well-being of the respondents. There was a strong correlation between physical activity and the well-being of research participants. The greatest decrease in physical activity was observed in medical students (52.08%). On the other hand, students of non-medical faculties (54.17%) showed a lower level of well-being, and higher medical students (45.83%). It is advisable to take preventive measures through active physical activity in order to eliminate the negative effects of the pandemic.

A Path Model for Subjective Well-Being during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Study among Polish and Ukrainian University Students

“…According to previous results [ 47 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 59 , 60 , 63 , 65 , 66 , 101 , 102 ], we assumed in hypothesis H4 that university students with insufficient levels of exercise (PA ≤ 150 min per week) demonstrate poorer physical and mental health compared to their counterparts with a sufficient PA level. In general, most university students represented an insufficient level of PA (66%).…”

“…Therefore, exercises are prescribed for patients with various diseases [ 106 ]. It was also evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic that high PA levels improved sleep quality and mitigated the mental health burden related to a lockdown, such as increased stress, negative emotions, anxiety, depression, or worsening sense of well-being [ 47 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 59 , 61 , 63 , 65 , 66 , 101 , 102 ]. Physical activity can improve the function of immune and respiratory systems and may predict coronavirus infection [ 104 , 107 ].…”

“…Regular physical activity (PA) has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular, muscular, and nervous systems, improving physical health and mental well-being [ 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ]. Unfortunately, a recent study showed that PA levels decreased while sedentary behavior simultaneously increased during the first phases of the COVID-19 pandemic due to social distancing and lockdown [ 8 , 34 , 47 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 ]. Furthermore, research showed that negative changes in health-related behavior (including PA) were associated with more symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress [ 60 , 65 , 66 ].…”

The Impact of Remote Work of University Teachers During the Covid-19 Pandemic on Occupational Health and Safety with a Focus on Psychological and Musculoskeletal Well-Being

“…Also resulting from a disturbed balance between private and professional life (work life balance). This is indicated by the results of many studies conducted in Poland (Zejda et al, 2009;Sochacka and Zdziarski, 2022;Niciejewska and Kasian, 2019;Niciejewska, 2020) as well as in other European Union countries (Cieza et al, 2021;Abdul Rahim et al, 2022). Of course, the health effects, both physiological and psychological, will probably be more visible in a few years.…”