IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i10p5139-d553314.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Comparison of Physical Activity Levels in Youths before and during a Pandemic Lockdown

Author

Listed:
  • Małgorzata Bronikowska

    (Department of Recreation, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznań, Poland)

  • Jana Krzysztoszek

    (Department of Didactics of Physical Activity, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznań, Poland)

  • Marlena Łopatka

    (Department of Didactics of Physical Activity, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznań, Poland)

  • Mateusz Ludwiczak

    (Department of Recreation, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznań, Poland)

  • Beata Pluta

    (Department of Recreation, Poznan University of Physical Education, 61-871 Poznań, Poland)

Abstract

This study aimed to compare physical activity (PA) levels before and during a pandemic lockdown among adolescent Polish youths in relation to meeting the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and identify potential environmental factors that may affect these levels. An online survey tool that included validated measures of adolescents’ MVPA and socio-environmental, potential confounders was administered to youths (e.g., lack of classmates, motivation, possibility of choosing any physical exercise time, possibility of choosing your own exercises, home environment). The analytic sample comprised 127 adolescents aged 15.4 ± 0.5 years on average (52% girls and 48% boys). The results highlight that among adolescents who did not meet the WHO MVPA recommendations before the lockdown, 13.4% had an increased frequency of PA (from 2.9 to 5.4 day/week) ( p = 0.01) during the lockdown. In the group who did meet these recommendations before the lockdown, 50% significantly decreased their level of MVPA below the WHO’s recommendations ( p = 0.01). Self-rated health for PA showed a significantly strong correlation with MVPA in the group of students who met the WHO recommendations before the pandemic (r = 0.76; p < 0.05) but failed to maintain that recommendation during the COVID-19 restriction. The results suggest a negative impact of the pandemic on PA undertaken by youths. Based on these results we see the need for increased action by both Physical Education (PE) teachers and parents to motivate and support youngsters in taking up systematic PA consciously.

Suggested Citation

  • Małgorzata Bronikowska & Jana Krzysztoszek & Marlena Łopatka & Mateusz Ludwiczak & Beata Pluta, 2021. "Comparison of Physical Activity Levels in Youths before and during a Pandemic Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:10:p:5139-:d:553314
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/10/5139/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/10/5139/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lovro Štefan & Marjeta Mišigoj-Duraković & Antonela Devrnja & Hrvoje Podnar & Vilko Petrić & Maroje Sorić, 2018. "Tracking of Physical Activity, Sport Participation, and Sedentary Behaviors over Four Years of High School," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-13, August.
    2. Jaroslava Kopcakova & Zuzana Dankulincova Veselska & Andrea Madarasova Geckova & Daniel Klein & Jitse P. Dijk & Sijmen A. Reijneveld, 2018. "Are school factors and urbanization supportive for being physically active and engaging in less screen-based activities?," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 63(3), pages 359-366, April.
    3. Marla Andréia Garcia de Avila & Pedro Tadao Hamamoto Filho & Francine Letícia da Silva Jacob & Léia Regina Souza Alcantara & Malin Berghammer & Margaretha Jenholt Nolbris & Patricia Olaya-Contreras & , 2020. "Children’s Anxiety and Factors Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Exploratory Study Using the Children’s Anxiety Questionnaire and the Numerical Rating Scale," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-13, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Agata Chudzicka-Czupała & Soon-Kiat Chiang & Damian Grabowski & Marta Żywiołek-Szeja & Matthew Quek & Bartosz Pudełek & Kayla Teopiz & Roger Ho & Roger S. McIntyre, 2022. "Predictors of Psychological Distress across Three Time Periods during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Junpei Huang & Shanlang Lin & Xiaoli Hu & Ruofei Lin, 2022. "Are Sports Champions Also Anti-Epidemic Heroes? Quantitative Research on the Influence of Sports Champions’ Demonstration Effect on the COVID-19 Epidemic in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-18, February.
    3. Elena Bozzola & Sarah Barni & Andrea Ficari & Alberto Villani, 2023. "Physical Activity in the COVID-19 Era and Its Impact on Adolescents’ Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-11, February.
    4. Liyi Ding & Britton W. Brewer & Marcia Mackey & Hao Cai & Jianqiang Zhang & Yudong Song & Qunhui Cai, 2022. "Factors Associated with School Sports Injury among Elementary and Middle School Students in Shanghai, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-11, May.
    5. Adrián Mateo-Orcajada & Raquel Vaquero-Cristóbal & Lucía Abenza-Cano, 2023. "Gender and academic year as moderators of the efficacy of mobile app interventions to promote physical activity in adolescents: a randomized controlled trial," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Kathrin Wunsch & Korbinian Kienberger & Claudia Niessner, 2022. "Changes in Physical Activity Patterns Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-48, February.
    7. Jung-In Yoo & Joung-Kyue Han & Hyun-Su Youn & Joo-Hyug Jung, 2021. "Comparison of Health Awareness in South Korean Middle School Students According to Type of Online Physical Education Classes during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-10, July.
    8. Aureliusz Kosendiak & Magdalena Król & Milena Ściskalska & Marta Kepinska, 2021. "The Changes in Stress Coping, Alcohol Use, Cigarette Smoking and Physical Activity during COVID-19 Related Lockdown in Medical Students in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-15, December.
    9. Shally Novita & Dhini Andriani & Erika & Mariusz Lipowski & Małgorzata Lipowska, 2022. "Anxiety towards COVID-19, Fear of Negative Appearance, Healthy Lifestyle, and Their Relationship with Well-Being during the Pandemic: A Cross-Cultural Study between Indonesia and Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-13, June.
    10. Seung-Man Lee & Jung-In Yoo & Hyun-Su Youn, 2021. "Changes in Alienation in Physical Education Classes, School Happiness, and Expectations of a Future Healthy Life after the COVID-19 Pandemic in Korean Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-11, October.
    11. Zsolt Bálint Katona & Johanna Takács & László Kerner & Zoltán Alföldi & Imre Soós & Tamás Gyömörei & Robert Podstawski & Ferenc Ihász, 2021. "Physical Activity and Screen Time among Hungarian High School Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic Caused Distance Education Period," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-11, December.
    12. Aleksandra Kołota & Dominika Głąbska, 2022. "Analysis of Association between Adolescents’ Food Habits and Body Mass Change in a Population-Based Sample: Diet and Activity of Youth during COVID-19 (DAY-19) Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-16, September.
    13. Lea Rossi & Nick Behme & Christoph Breuer, 2021. "Physical Activity of Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-18, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ivan Radman & Maroje Sorić & Marjeta Mišigoj-Duraković, 2020. "Prevalence of Key Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Urban Adolescents: The CRO-PALS Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-11, May.
    2. Erica Gobbi & Silvio Maltagliati & Philippe Sarrazin & Selenia di Fronso & Alessandra Colangelo & Boris Cheval & Géraldine Escriva-Boulley & Damien Tessier & Giyasettin Demirhan & Gokce Erturan & Yilm, 2020. "Promoting Physical Activity during School Closures Imposed by the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Physical Education Teachers’ Behaviors in France, Italy and Turkey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-15, December.
    3. Clemens Drenowatz & Klaus Greier & Gerhard Ruedl & Martin Kopp, 2019. "Association between Club Sports Participation and Physical Fitness across 6- to 14-Year-Old Austrian Youth," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-11, September.
    4. Júlio César Nasário & Victor Zaia & Camila Martins Trevisan & Simone Garzon & Antonio Simone Laganà & Erik Montagna, 2020. "Attitudes and Values of Physical Education Professionals and Undergraduate Students about Their Role in Health Promotion," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-15, March.
    5. Asadullah, M. Niaz & Tham, Eric, 2023. "Learning and happiness during Covid-19 school closure in urban Malaysia," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    6. Abishamala Kingsly & Anna Timperio & Jenny Veitch & Jo Salmon & Rajendra Pradeepa & Harish Ranjani & Ranjit Mohan Anjana, 2020. "Individual, Social and Environmental Correlates of Active School Travel among Adolescents in India," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-13, October.
    7. Antonio Fernández-Martínez & Raquel Pérez-Ordás & Román Nuviala & Mónica Aznar & Ana María Porcel-Gálvez & Alberto Nuviala, 2020. "Communication as a Strategy to Promote Sports and Health Activities Designed for Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-13, July.
    8. Burak, Durmus, 2023. "Psychometric properties of pandemic awareness scale for students aged 8–12: The case of COVID-19," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    9. Hang T. M. Nguyen & Hoang V. Nguyen & Btissame Zouini & Meftaha Senhaji & Kourosh Bador & Zsuzsa Szombathyne Meszaros & Dejan Stevanovic & Nóra Kerekes, 2022. "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Adolescents’ Psychological Distress: A Multinational Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-16, July.
    10. Raquel Pérez-Ordás & Mónica Aznar Cebamanos & Román Nuviala & Alberto Nuviala, 2019. "Evaluation of Extracurricular Sports Activities as an Educational Element for Sustainable Development in Educational Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-13, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:10:p:5139-:d:553314. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.