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Assessment of Subjective Well-Being in a Cohort of University Students and Staff Members: Association with Physical Activity and Outdoor Leisure Time during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

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  • Stefano Quarta

    (Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DISTEBA), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Annalisa Levante

    (Department of History, Society, and Human Studies, University of Salento, Via di Valesio, 73100 Lecce, Italy
    Laboratory of Applied Psychology, Department of History, Society, and Human Studies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • María-Teresa García-Conesa

    (Research Group on Quality, Safety and Bioactivity of Plant Foods, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada 40 del Segura-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CEBAS-CSIC), Campus de Espinardo, P.O. Box 164, 30100 Murcia, Spain)

  • Flavia Lecciso

    (Department of History, Society, and Human Studies, University of Salento, Via di Valesio, 73100 Lecce, Italy
    Laboratory of Applied Psychology, Department of History, Society, and Human Studies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Egeria Scoditti

    (Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), National Research Council (CNR), 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Maria Annunziata Carluccio

    (Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), National Research Council (CNR), 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Nadia Calabriso

    (Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), National Research Council (CNR), 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Fabrizio Damiano

    (Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DISTEBA), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Santarpino

    (Cardiovascular Center, Paracelsus Medical University, 90471 Nuremberg, Germany
    GVM Care and Research, Città di Lecce Hospital, 73100 Lecce, Italy
    Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University “Magna Graecia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy)

  • Tiziano Verri

    (Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DISTEBA), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Paula Pinto

    (Instituto Politécnico de Santarém, Escola Superior Agraria, 2001-904 Santarem, Portugal
    Life Quality Research Centre (CIEQV), IPSantarém/IPLeiria, 2040-413 Rio Maior, Portugal)

  • Luisa Siculella

    (Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DISTEBA), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Marika Massaro

    (Institute of Clinical Physiology (IFC), National Research Council (CNR), 73100 Lecce, Italy)

Abstract

Time spent outdoors and physical activity (PA) promote mental health. To confirm this relationship in the aftermath of COVID-19 lockdowns, we explored individual levels of anxiety, depression, stress and subjective well-being (SWB) in a cohort of academic students and staff members and tested their association with sport practice, PA at leisure time and time spent outdoors. Our cross-sectional study collected data during the COVID-19 outbreak (April–May 2021) on 939 students and on 238 employees, who completed an online survey on sociodemographic and lifestyle features, depression, anxiety, stress, and SWB. Results showed that the students exhibited higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, and lower levels of SWB ( p < 0.001 for all domains) compared to the staff members. Correlation analysis confirmed that PA and time spent in nature were associated to high mental health scores among staff and, more consistently, among students. Finally, mediation analyses indicated that the time spent in nature, social relationships, and levels of energy play a mediator role in the relationship between sport practice and SWB. Our evidence reinforces the protective role of time spent in nature in improving mental health, and provides support for policymakers to make appropriate choices for a better management of COVID-19 pandemic consequences.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefano Quarta & Annalisa Levante & María-Teresa García-Conesa & Flavia Lecciso & Egeria Scoditti & Maria Annunziata Carluccio & Nadia Calabriso & Fabrizio Damiano & Giuseppe Santarpino & Tiziano Verr, 2022. "Assessment of Subjective Well-Being in a Cohort of University Students and Staff Members: Association with Physical Activity and Outdoor Leisure Time during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-26, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:8:p:4787-:d:794343
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mingna Li & Bo Zhou & Bingbin Hu, 2022. "Relationship between Income and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, July.
    2. Chanté Johannes & Nicolette V. Roman & Sunday O. Onagbiye & Simone Titus & Lloyd L. Leach, 2024. "Relationship between Psychosocial Factors and Physical Activity among Undergraduate Students from a South African University," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(4), pages 1-20, April.

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