Physical Activity Levels and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Results of a Comparative Study between Convenience Samples from Brazil and Switzerland
<i>Background and objectives:</i> It has been suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic impaired people’s moods and general levels of physical activity, but the way in which each country is coping with the situation may result in different outcomes. The aim of the present study was to compare...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Medicina |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1010-660X/57/1/48 |
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| author | Paulo J. Puccinelli Taline S. Costa Aldo Seffrin Claudio A. B. de Lira Rodrigo L. Vancini Beat Knechtle Pantelis T. Nikolaidis Marilia S. Andrade |
| author_facet | Paulo J. Puccinelli Taline S. Costa Aldo Seffrin Claudio A. B. de Lira Rodrigo L. Vancini Beat Knechtle Pantelis T. Nikolaidis Marilia S. Andrade |
| author_sort | Paulo J. Puccinelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and objectives:</i> It has been suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic impaired people’s moods and general levels of physical activity, but the way in which each country is coping with the situation may result in different outcomes. The aim of the present study was to compare the mental health and physical activity levels between residents of Brazil and Switzerland during the social distancing period associated with COVID-19 pandemic. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> A self-administered questionnaire aiming to assess personal, quarantine, physical activity, and mood state disorders data was answered by 114 participants (57 from each country) of both sexes. <i>Results:</i> Swiss participants presented a higher frequency of people (47.4%) not abiding by social distancing measures compared to Brazilian participants (1.8%; <i>p</i> < 0.001, effect size = 0.56). There were no significant differences between the participants from the two countries regarding physical activity levels (<i>p</i> = 0.09). The Swiss presented a higher frequency (78.9%) of people without symptoms of depression compared to Brazilians (31.6%; <i>p</i> < 0.001, effect size = 0.48). The Swiss also presented a higher frequency (77.2%) of people without symptoms of anxiety compared to Brazilians (35.1%; <i>p</i> < 0.001, effect size = 0.43). There was a significant association between the restriction level and depression symptoms (<i>p</i> = 0.01, effect size = 0.25) but not with anxiety symptoms (<i>p</i> = 0.21, effect size = 0.16). <i>Conclusions:</i> According to the preliminary results, Brazilians presented a much higher frequency of depression and anxiety symptoms, which can be explained by characteristics other than the restriction level. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T08:32:34Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1010-660X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T08:32:34Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj.art-2df3c739ed7549f98abaa10c1bf138bc2023-09-02T17:28:53ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X2021-01-0157484810.3390/medicina57010048Physical Activity Levels and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Results of a Comparative Study between Convenience Samples from Brazil and SwitzerlandPaulo J. Puccinelli0Taline S. Costa1Aldo Seffrin2Claudio A. B. de Lira3Rodrigo L. Vancini4Beat Knechtle5Pantelis T. Nikolaidis6Marilia S. Andrade7Department of Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Botucatu, 862 5 andar, São Paulo, SP 04023-901, BrazilDepartment of Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Botucatu, 862 5 andar, São Paulo, SP 04023-901, BrazilDepartment of Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Botucatu, 862 5 andar, São Paulo, SP 04023-901, BrazilHuman and Exercise Physiology Division, Faculty of Physical Education and Dance, Federal University of Goiás, Avenida Esperança s/n, Câmpus Samambaia, Goiânia, GO 74690-900, BrazilCenter for Physical Education and Sports, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Rua Aleixo Netto, n. 920 apt. 201, Vitória, ES 29055-260, BrazilMedbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, 9006 St. Gallen, SwitzerlandExercise Physiology Laboratory, 18450 Nikaia, GreeceDepartment of Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Botucatu, 862 5 andar, São Paulo, SP 04023-901, Brazil<i>Background and objectives:</i> It has been suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic impaired people’s moods and general levels of physical activity, but the way in which each country is coping with the situation may result in different outcomes. The aim of the present study was to compare the mental health and physical activity levels between residents of Brazil and Switzerland during the social distancing period associated with COVID-19 pandemic. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> A self-administered questionnaire aiming to assess personal, quarantine, physical activity, and mood state disorders data was answered by 114 participants (57 from each country) of both sexes. <i>Results:</i> Swiss participants presented a higher frequency of people (47.4%) not abiding by social distancing measures compared to Brazilian participants (1.8%; <i>p</i> < 0.001, effect size = 0.56). There were no significant differences between the participants from the two countries regarding physical activity levels (<i>p</i> = 0.09). The Swiss presented a higher frequency (78.9%) of people without symptoms of depression compared to Brazilians (31.6%; <i>p</i> < 0.001, effect size = 0.48). The Swiss also presented a higher frequency (77.2%) of people without symptoms of anxiety compared to Brazilians (35.1%; <i>p</i> < 0.001, effect size = 0.43). There was a significant association between the restriction level and depression symptoms (<i>p</i> = 0.01, effect size = 0.25) but not with anxiety symptoms (<i>p</i> = 0.21, effect size = 0.16). <i>Conclusions:</i> According to the preliminary results, Brazilians presented a much higher frequency of depression and anxiety symptoms, which can be explained by characteristics other than the restriction level.https://www.mdpi.com/1010-660X/57/1/48pandemicsocial distancingCOVID-19physical exercisemood statedepression |
| spellingShingle | Paulo J. Puccinelli Taline S. Costa Aldo Seffrin Claudio A. B. de Lira Rodrigo L. Vancini Beat Knechtle Pantelis T. Nikolaidis Marilia S. Andrade Physical Activity Levels and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Results of a Comparative Study between Convenience Samples from Brazil and Switzerland Medicina pandemic social distancing COVID-19 physical exercise mood state depression |
| title | Physical Activity Levels and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Results of a Comparative Study between Convenience Samples from Brazil and Switzerland |
| title_full | Physical Activity Levels and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Results of a Comparative Study between Convenience Samples from Brazil and Switzerland |
| title_fullStr | Physical Activity Levels and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Results of a Comparative Study between Convenience Samples from Brazil and Switzerland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical Activity Levels and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Results of a Comparative Study between Convenience Samples from Brazil and Switzerland |
| title_short | Physical Activity Levels and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Results of a Comparative Study between Convenience Samples from Brazil and Switzerland |
| title_sort | physical activity levels and mental health during the covid 19 pandemic preliminary results of a comparative study between convenience samples from brazil and switzerland |
| topic | pandemic social distancing COVID-19 physical exercise mood state depression |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1010-660X/57/1/48 |
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