A longitudinal study to COVID-19 infection among university students: Physical fitness changes and psychological responses
Background: The impact of COVID-19 infection on physical and mental health of young adults remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the changes in the physical fitness three months after recovering from acute COVID-19 infection, and examine if the infection could also influence the mental he...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1728869X24000686 |
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| author | Yuning Hao Jay Lee Water Soi Po Wong Frankie U. Kei Wong Walter Heung Chin Hui Gasper Chi Hong Leong Zhaowei Kong |
| author_facet | Yuning Hao Jay Lee Water Soi Po Wong Frankie U. Kei Wong Walter Heung Chin Hui Gasper Chi Hong Leong Zhaowei Kong |
| author_sort | Yuning Hao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The impact of COVID-19 infection on physical and mental health of young adults remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the changes in the physical fitness three months after recovering from acute COVID-19 infection, and examine if the infection could also influence the mental health of university students. Methods: A total of 460 university students (mean age 18.9 ± 1.3 years, with 30 males and 27 females uninfected with COVID-19) volunteered for the study. Participants underwent a fitness test initially, followed by another physical fitness test and a mental health assessment three months after the infection of COVID-19. Physical fitness tests included body composition, flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and muscular endurance. Mental health was assessed using the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Self-Assessment Scale (DASS-21), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI), and the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Self-Assessment Scale (PTSD). Results: Three months after acute COVID-19 infection, the physical performance of university students had decreased compared to pre-infection levels by approximate 3–15 % (p < 0.05). Regarding mental health, a notable difference was observed in sleep quality, with the positive group scoring 19 % higher than the negative group (p < .05, d = .44). Sex (β = .164, p < .05), previous infection (β = .277, p = .019) and anxiety (β = .373, p = .002) were predictive of PSQI scores, accounting for 37.5 % of the variance. Conclusions: All participants experienced a decline in physical fitness compared to their pre-infection levels, regardless of infection status. Those who had been infected exhibited poorer sleep quality compared to their non-infected peers. Prior COVID-19 infection and higher anxiety levels may contribute to poorer sleep quality. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3031717ee6ff4ad382969abb4d901ba1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1728-869X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness |
| spelling | doaj-art-3031717ee6ff4ad382969abb4d901ba12025-02-06T05:11:23ZengElsevierJournal of Exercise Science & Fitness1728-869X2025-01-01231713A longitudinal study to COVID-19 infection among university students: Physical fitness changes and psychological responsesYuning Hao0Jay Lee1Water Soi Po Wong2Frankie U. Kei Wong3Walter Heung Chin Hui4Gasper Chi Hong Leong5Zhaowei Kong6Faculty of Education, University of Macau, ChinaFaculty of Education, University of Macau, ChinaFaculty of Education, University of Macau, ChinaFaculty of Education, University of Macau, ChinaFaculty of Education, University of Macau, ChinaFaculty of Education, University of Macau, ChinaCorresponding author.; Faculty of Education, University of Macau, ChinaBackground: The impact of COVID-19 infection on physical and mental health of young adults remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the changes in the physical fitness three months after recovering from acute COVID-19 infection, and examine if the infection could also influence the mental health of university students. Methods: A total of 460 university students (mean age 18.9 ± 1.3 years, with 30 males and 27 females uninfected with COVID-19) volunteered for the study. Participants underwent a fitness test initially, followed by another physical fitness test and a mental health assessment three months after the infection of COVID-19. Physical fitness tests included body composition, flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and muscular endurance. Mental health was assessed using the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Self-Assessment Scale (DASS-21), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI), and the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Self-Assessment Scale (PTSD). Results: Three months after acute COVID-19 infection, the physical performance of university students had decreased compared to pre-infection levels by approximate 3–15 % (p < 0.05). Regarding mental health, a notable difference was observed in sleep quality, with the positive group scoring 19 % higher than the negative group (p < .05, d = .44). Sex (β = .164, p < .05), previous infection (β = .277, p = .019) and anxiety (β = .373, p = .002) were predictive of PSQI scores, accounting for 37.5 % of the variance. Conclusions: All participants experienced a decline in physical fitness compared to their pre-infection levels, regardless of infection status. Those who had been infected exhibited poorer sleep quality compared to their non-infected peers. Prior COVID-19 infection and higher anxiety levels may contribute to poorer sleep quality.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1728869X24000686Post-pandemicCardiorespiratory endurancePhysical activitySleep disorderYouth |
| spellingShingle | Yuning Hao Jay Lee Water Soi Po Wong Frankie U. Kei Wong Walter Heung Chin Hui Gasper Chi Hong Leong Zhaowei Kong A longitudinal study to COVID-19 infection among university students: Physical fitness changes and psychological responses Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness Post-pandemic Cardiorespiratory endurance Physical activity Sleep disorder Youth |
| title | A longitudinal study to COVID-19 infection among university students: Physical fitness changes and psychological responses |
| title_full | A longitudinal study to COVID-19 infection among university students: Physical fitness changes and psychological responses |
| title_fullStr | A longitudinal study to COVID-19 infection among university students: Physical fitness changes and psychological responses |
| title_full_unstemmed | A longitudinal study to COVID-19 infection among university students: Physical fitness changes and psychological responses |
| title_short | A longitudinal study to COVID-19 infection among university students: Physical fitness changes and psychological responses |
| title_sort | longitudinal study to covid 19 infection among university students physical fitness changes and psychological responses |
| topic | Post-pandemic Cardiorespiratory endurance Physical activity Sleep disorder Youth |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1728869X24000686 |
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