Sports activity limitation during the COVID-19 pandemic in young Italian athletes: impact on mental health in children, adolescents, and young adults
IntroductionThe closure of sports centres was implemented as a preventive measure to mitigate the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Given the observed global decline in physical activity and concurrent rise in sedentary behaviour, even among younger age groups, a retrospective cross-sectional study was un...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-08-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1237443/full |
| _version_ | 1797745750862462976 |
|---|---|
| author | Elisa Tomezzoli Oriana D'Ecclesiis Sara Raimondi Gabriella Pravettoni Giulio Cammarata Giovanna Testa Federica Bellerba Patrizia Gnagnarella Maria Luisa Iannuzzo Alessandro Sartorio Clementina Sasso Dorotea Ricci Nicoletta Marazzi Federica Galli Sara Gandini |
| author_facet | Elisa Tomezzoli Oriana D'Ecclesiis Sara Raimondi Gabriella Pravettoni Giulio Cammarata Giovanna Testa Federica Bellerba Patrizia Gnagnarella Maria Luisa Iannuzzo Alessandro Sartorio Clementina Sasso Dorotea Ricci Nicoletta Marazzi Federica Galli Sara Gandini |
| author_sort | Elisa Tomezzoli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe closure of sports centres was implemented as a preventive measure to mitigate the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Given the observed global decline in physical activity and concurrent rise in sedentary behaviour, even among younger age groups, a retrospective cross-sectional study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of this measure on mental health in children, adolescents, and young adults during the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA total of 1,717 non-professional athletes (age range: 6–25; 53.9% males, 44.6% females) completed an online questionnaire including widely used and validated measures for mental health assessment (SDQ and PGWB-S) and questions regarding sociodemographic characteristics (such as gender), physical activity, and screen time. The association between mental health and sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity, and screen time was evaluated by using univariate and multivariable logistic regression models.ResultsIn children and adolescents, the incidence of psychological difficulties was associated with not being physically active (OR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.07; p = 0.015). Engaging in physical activity during the period of closures, particularly if more than twice a week, was significantly associated with less psychological difficulties for children/adolescents (OR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.35, 0.82; p = 0.004) and psychological symptoms (i.e., psychological well-being lower than the median) for youth/young adults (OR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.45; p < 0.001). More psychological difficulties were also found in males for children and adolescents (OR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.79; p = 0.018). However, young adult males showed less psychological symptoms than females (OR = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.22, 0.55; p = 0.001). Additionally, a greater amount of screen time was associated with a higher incidence of psychological symptoms in the whole sample.ConclusionsOur results confirm the positive impact of physical activity on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic among younger age groups. They also provide valuable insights into the risk-benefit relationship of interrupting sports activities as a preventive measure for infectious diseases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:27:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5881003a24cf4d938766dc7b0555c7de |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:27:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-5881003a24cf4d938766dc7b0555c7de2023-08-10T11:37:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652023-08-011110.3389/fpubh.2023.12374431237443Sports activity limitation during the COVID-19 pandemic in young Italian athletes: impact on mental health in children, adolescents, and young adultsElisa Tomezzoli0Oriana D'Ecclesiis1Sara Raimondi2Gabriella Pravettoni3Giulio Cammarata4Giovanna Testa5Federica Bellerba6Patrizia Gnagnarella7Maria Luisa Iannuzzo8Alessandro Sartorio9Clementina Sasso10Dorotea Ricci11Nicoletta Marazzi12Federica Galli13Sara Gandini14Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, IEO, European Institute of Oncology Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyMolecular and Pharmaco-Epidemiology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyMolecular and Pharmaco-Epidemiology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyApplied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, IEO, European Institute of Oncology Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyMolecular and Pharmaco-Epidemiology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyIndependent Researcher, Milan, ItalyMolecular and Pharmaco-Epidemiology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyDivision of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, IEO, European Institute of Oncology Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyAULSS 9 Scaligera, Dipartimento di Prevenzione, UOC Medicina Legale, Verona, ItalyExperimental Laboratory for Auxo-endocrinological Research, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyIstituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF)-Capodimonte Astronomical Observatory, Naples, ItalyARES-ODV Associazione Regionale Emergenza Sanitaria, Ancona, ItalyExperimental Laboratory for Auxo-endocrinological Research, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyDepartment of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, ItalyMolecular and Pharmaco-Epidemiology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyIntroductionThe closure of sports centres was implemented as a preventive measure to mitigate the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Given the observed global decline in physical activity and concurrent rise in sedentary behaviour, even among younger age groups, a retrospective cross-sectional study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of this measure on mental health in children, adolescents, and young adults during the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA total of 1,717 non-professional athletes (age range: 6–25; 53.9% males, 44.6% females) completed an online questionnaire including widely used and validated measures for mental health assessment (SDQ and PGWB-S) and questions regarding sociodemographic characteristics (such as gender), physical activity, and screen time. The association between mental health and sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity, and screen time was evaluated by using univariate and multivariable logistic regression models.ResultsIn children and adolescents, the incidence of psychological difficulties was associated with not being physically active (OR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.07; p = 0.015). Engaging in physical activity during the period of closures, particularly if more than twice a week, was significantly associated with less psychological difficulties for children/adolescents (OR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.35, 0.82; p = 0.004) and psychological symptoms (i.e., psychological well-being lower than the median) for youth/young adults (OR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.45; p < 0.001). More psychological difficulties were also found in males for children and adolescents (OR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.79; p = 0.018). However, young adult males showed less psychological symptoms than females (OR = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.22, 0.55; p = 0.001). Additionally, a greater amount of screen time was associated with a higher incidence of psychological symptoms in the whole sample.ConclusionsOur results confirm the positive impact of physical activity on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic among younger age groups. They also provide valuable insights into the risk-benefit relationship of interrupting sports activities as a preventive measure for infectious diseases.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1237443/fullCOVID-19preventive measuresphysical activitymental healthchildrenadolescents |
| spellingShingle | Elisa Tomezzoli Oriana D'Ecclesiis Sara Raimondi Gabriella Pravettoni Giulio Cammarata Giovanna Testa Federica Bellerba Patrizia Gnagnarella Maria Luisa Iannuzzo Alessandro Sartorio Clementina Sasso Dorotea Ricci Nicoletta Marazzi Federica Galli Sara Gandini Sports activity limitation during the COVID-19 pandemic in young Italian athletes: impact on mental health in children, adolescents, and young adults Frontiers in Public Health COVID-19 preventive measures physical activity mental health children adolescents |
| title | Sports activity limitation during the COVID-19 pandemic in young Italian athletes: impact on mental health in children, adolescents, and young adults |
| title_full | Sports activity limitation during the COVID-19 pandemic in young Italian athletes: impact on mental health in children, adolescents, and young adults |
| title_fullStr | Sports activity limitation during the COVID-19 pandemic in young Italian athletes: impact on mental health in children, adolescents, and young adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sports activity limitation during the COVID-19 pandemic in young Italian athletes: impact on mental health in children, adolescents, and young adults |
| title_short | Sports activity limitation during the COVID-19 pandemic in young Italian athletes: impact on mental health in children, adolescents, and young adults |
| title_sort | sports activity limitation during the covid 19 pandemic in young italian athletes impact on mental health in children adolescents and young adults |
| topic | COVID-19 preventive measures physical activity mental health children adolescents |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1237443/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elisatomezzoli sportsactivitylimitationduringthecovid19pandemicinyoungitalianathletesimpactonmentalhealthinchildrenadolescentsandyoungadults AT orianadecclesiis sportsactivitylimitationduringthecovid19pandemicinyoungitalianathletesimpactonmentalhealthinchildrenadolescentsandyoungadults AT sararaimondi sportsactivitylimitationduringthecovid19pandemicinyoungitalianathletesimpactonmentalhealthinchildrenadolescentsandyoungadults AT gabriellapravettoni sportsactivitylimitationduringthecovid19pandemicinyoungitalianathletesimpactonmentalhealthinchildrenadolescentsandyoungadults AT giuliocammarata sportsactivitylimitationduringthecovid19pandemicinyoungitalianathletesimpactonmentalhealthinchildrenadolescentsandyoungadults AT giovannatesta sportsactivitylimitationduringthecovid19pandemicinyoungitalianathletesimpactonmentalhealthinchildrenadolescentsandyoungadults AT federicabellerba sportsactivitylimitationduringthecovid19pandemicinyoungitalianathletesimpactonmentalhealthinchildrenadolescentsandyoungadults AT patriziagnagnarella sportsactivitylimitationduringthecovid19pandemicinyoungitalianathletesimpactonmentalhealthinchildrenadolescentsandyoungadults AT marialuisaiannuzzo sportsactivitylimitationduringthecovid19pandemicinyoungitalianathletesimpactonmentalhealthinchildrenadolescentsandyoungadults AT alessandrosartorio sportsactivitylimitationduringthecovid19pandemicinyoungitalianathletesimpactonmentalhealthinchildrenadolescentsandyoungadults AT clementinasasso sportsactivitylimitationduringthecovid19pandemicinyoungitalianathletesimpactonmentalhealthinchildrenadolescentsandyoungadults AT dorotearicci sportsactivitylimitationduringthecovid19pandemicinyoungitalianathletesimpactonmentalhealthinchildrenadolescentsandyoungadults AT nicolettamarazzi sportsactivitylimitationduringthecovid19pandemicinyoungitalianathletesimpactonmentalhealthinchildrenadolescentsandyoungadults AT federicagalli sportsactivitylimitationduringthecovid19pandemicinyoungitalianathletesimpactonmentalhealthinchildrenadolescentsandyoungadults AT saragandini sportsactivitylimitationduringthecovid19pandemicinyoungitalianathletesimpactonmentalhealthinchildrenadolescentsandyoungadults |