The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical Activity Patterns of Dental Students: A Multinational Survey

Abstract

Background: The authorities of the world had to take extraordinary containment measures due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic spreading across the globe. The only way to stay active during the pandemic was at-home physical activity (PA). The current study evaluates how these preventative measures impacted the PA and well-being of students. Methods: This study is multicentral and was conducted in Malaysia, India, Cambodia, and Saudi Arabia; participants were recruited from four different regions to answer the online questionnaire provided via a link shared using their personal WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Twitter social media. Results: The means of vigorous, moderate, and light PA (min/day) between the active and inactive groups were significantly different (p = 0.001, 0.007, and 0.001), respectively. In comparison with pre-COVID-19, the participants reported that it became more challenging to engage in regular exercise since the onset of social distance, associated with a lack of motivation followed by “less confidence”, “less enjoyment”, “less support, and fewer opportunities to engage in exercise”; moreover, it was “difficult to maintain close relationships” and “hard to voice their options on contentious matters” (p = 0.001). Public health measures affected the PA and well-being of active and inactive students; this demonstrates that health promotion strategies aimed at enhancing levels of PA in inactive students may be necessary to improve students’ well-being.

Psychophysiological Adaptations to Exercise Training in COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review

“…The residual impact of hospitalization length of stay and side effects of medication among recovered patients resulted in a decline in pulmonary function and cardiorespiratory deconditioning [ 9 , 10 ]. Furthermore, a high prevalence of anxiety and depression has been documented post-treatment as well as anxiety in families [ 11 ].…”

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on physical activity behavior among students in Somalia

“…Nevertheless, there is currently no documented research on the well-being and PA patterns of Somali students in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic [29] . Therefore, the main objective of this study is to outline the PA and well-being status of Somali students in the aftermath of the six-month lockdown implemented at the onset of the pandemic.…”