Frequency of physical activity and stress levels among Brazilian adults during social distancing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19): cross-sectional study

Regular Physical Activity Can Counteract LONG COVID Symptoms in Adults over 40

Three years after the SARS-CoV-19 pandemic, a chronic post-COVID syndrome "LONG COVID" persists, causing fatigue and shortness of breath, along with distress, anxiety, and depression.

AIM

To assess the impact of physical activity on the management and rehabilitation of LONG COVID, as well as to investigate the persistence of LONG COVID symptomatology in individuals over 40 years, beyond the pandemic.

METHODS

A total of 1004 participants (aged 53.45 ± 11.35) were recruited through an online snowball sampling strategy to complete a web-based survey. The following questionnaires were administered: Physical Activity Scale for Elderly (PASE), Shortness of Breath Questionnaire (SOBQ), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 item (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7), and Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC).

RESULTS

Significant gender differences were discovered, with women reporting higher symptoms than men (p < 0.001). Significant age differences were also found, with participants under 55 showing higher values than those over 55 (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between aerobic and mixed physical activity (p > 0.05) while significant results emerged between physical activity groups and the no activity group (p < 0.001). The low-frequency group reported higher symptoms than the high-frequency group (all ps < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Regardless of the type of physical activity performed, our survey identified the frequency of training as a crucial factor to overcome LONG COVID symptoms; the challenge lies in overcoming the difficulties due to the persistent feelings of inefficiency and fatigue typical of those who have contracted the infection.

The Association between Perceived Stress, Quality of Life, and Level of Physical Activity in Public School Teachers

Chronic high stress levels related to work impact the quality of life (QoL). Although physical activity improves QoL, it is not clear whether this life study habit could attenuate possible relationships between QoL and stress in public school teachers. The sample for this study was made up of 231 teachers from public schools. QoL was assessed using the Short-Form Health Survey and physical activity via Baecke's questionnaire. A Likert scale assessed stress level perception. Poisson Regression analyzed the association between stress level and QoL domains adjusted for sex, age, and socioeconomic conditions (model 1). In model 2, physical activity level was inserted in addition to model 1. Seven out of eight domains of QoL, except the domain of pain, were associated with high levels of stress (all p < 0.05-model 1). However, in model 2, the associations of the high levels of stress with general health status (p = 0.052) and functional capacity (p = 0.081) domains of QoL were mitigated. Our results indicated that physical activity mitigated the relationship between higher levels of stress and lower perception of general health status and functional capacity domains in secondary public school teachers.

Physical activity level and factors associated with perceived stress among Peruvian university professors during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the transition to remote work, triggering variations in stress and physical activity (PA), associated with context-specific instability.

Objective

To identify the association between perceived stress (PS) and the level of physical activity (PA) and explore its relationship with the sociodemographic, family, work and individual characteristics of professors working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Material and methods

Cross-sectional analytical study based on a virtual survey of professors. PS was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), and PA using an International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The prevalence of high PS and the association with PA were estimated using a Poisson regression analysis with robust variance that estimated crude prevalence ratios (cPR) and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Five models were developed to assess associations of PS and PA with sociodemographic, family, work, and individual variables.

Results

The information of 191 professors was analyzed; 39.27% were women, aged 52 (41-60). The prevalence of high stress was 47.12%. The age and being head of household did not show significant individual associations with PS. However, the regression analysis assessing the association of PS and other factors showed that compared to the moderate PA group, a statistically significant association was found between stress and high PA (aPR = 0.19; 0.06-0.59), low PA (aPR = 1.43; 1.02-2.01), mainly influenced by age, being head of household and sleep quality.

Conclusion

Stress was associated with PA level, family and individual factors. These findings allow identifying characteristics, such as being head of household, age and quality of sleep among teachers, as being associated with a higher probability of having high stress. Subsequent studies should consider the role of individuals and working conditions as part of occupational health surveillance, given the presence of hybrid education in the education sector.

Association between Stress and Physical Fitness of University Students Post-COVID-19 Pandemic

Post-COVID-19 pandemic, most universities changed their educational model from online courses to onsite learning, allowing students to attend regular face-to-face classes. These changes can cause stress in students, which affects physical fitness. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between stress levels and physical fitness in female university students. The participants were 101 female university students, 18-23 years of age. All participants completed the Suan Prung Stress Test-60 (SPST-60). The physical fitness test included body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, as well as musculoskeletal fitness. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the associations between SPST-60 scores and physical fitness. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. We found a negative correlation between the sources of stress scores, here environment, and maximal oxygen consumption (β = -0.291; 95% CI, -0.551, -0.031). We also found that symptoms of stress scores in the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems were positively associated with waist-hip circumference ratio (WHR) (β = 0.010; 95% CI, 0.002, 0.017 and β = 0.006; 95% CI, 0.000, 0.012, respectively). Moreover, the symptoms of stress, here emotion, were positively associated with the WHR (β = 0.005; 95 %CI, 0.001, 0.009) and negatively associated with upper extremity muscle strength (β = -0.005; 95% CI, -0.009, 0.000). The results of this study confirmed the associations between stress levels in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era and WHR, maximal oxygen consumption, and upper extremity muscle strength. As a result, stress reduction or prevention alternatives should be considered in order to maintain physical fitness and prevent stress disorders.