IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2022i1p95-d1010637.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effects of Physical Activity and Circadian Rhythm Differences on the Mental Health of College Students in Schools Closed by COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Huimin Li

    (Physical Education Institute, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu 241000, China)

  • Yong Zhang

    (Physical Education Institute, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu 241000, China)

Abstract

Purpose: Since the prolonged sequestration management that was implemented in order to achieve lower infection and mortality rates, there has been a surge in depression worldwide. The correlation between the physical activity level and the detection rate of a depressed mood in college students should be of wide concern. A large number of studies have focused on the association between physical activity levels and a negative mood, but circadian rhythm differences seem to be strongly associated with both physical activity levels and mental illness. Therefore, this paper will examine the correlation between physical activity levels, circadian rhythm differences, and mental health levels in college students. METHODS: Data were collected through a web-based cross-sectional survey. In June and December 2022, questionnaires were administered to college students from three universities in Anhui, China. In addition to socio-demographic information, measures included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Morning and Evening Questionnaire-5 Items (MEQ-5), and Symptom Check List90 (SCL-90) scales. Correlation analysis was used to understand the relationship between physical activity and circadian rhythm differences in the three aspects of college student’s mental health. RESULTS: The analysis of the data led to the conclusion that 28.4% of the 1241 college students in this survey had psychological disorders. The physical activity level of male students was higher than that of female students, but the risk of having depressive tendencies was higher in female students than in male students. There was a significant negative correlation between the physical activity level and scl-90 scores ( p < 0.01), which indicates that higher physical activity levels are associated with higher mental health. Circadian rhythm differences and scl-90 scores were significantly positively correlated among college students ( p < 0.01), and night-type people had a higher risk of mental illness than intermediate-type and early-morning-type people. CONCLUSIONS: During the period of closed administration due to COVID-19, school college students experienced large and high levels of negative emotional phenomena due to reduced physical activity and public health emergencies. This study showed significant correlations between both physical activity levels and circadian rhythmicity differences and the degree of mental health of college students.

Suggested Citation

  • Huimin Li & Yong Zhang, 2022. "Effects of Physical Activity and Circadian Rhythm Differences on the Mental Health of College Students in Schools Closed by COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2022:i:1:p:95-:d:1010637
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/1/95/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/1/95/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Clément Ginoux & Sandrine Isoard-Gautheur & Claudia Teran-Escobar & Cyril Forestier & Aïna Chalabaev & Anna Clavel & Philippe Sarrazin, 2021. "Being Active during the Lockdown: The Recovery Potential of Physical Activity for Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Jacob Meyer & Cillian McDowell & Jeni Lansing & Cassandra Brower & Lee Smith & Mark Tully & Matthew Herring, 2020. "Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Response to COVID-19 and Their Associations with Mental Health in 3052 US Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-13, September.
    3. Samuel E Jones & Jessica Tyrrell & Andrew R Wood & Robin N Beaumont & Katherine S Ruth & Marcus A Tuke & Hanieh Yaghootkar & Youna Hu & Maris Teder-Laving & Caroline Hayward & Till Roenneberg & James , 2016. "Genome-Wide Association Analyses in 128,266 Individuals Identifies New Morningness and Sleep Duration Loci," PLOS Genetics, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(8), pages 1-19, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Raquel Lara & Martha Fernández-Daza & Sara Zabarain-Cogollo & María Angustias Olivencia-Carrión & Manuel Jiménez-Torres & María Demelza Olivencia-Carrión & Adelaida Ogallar-Blanco & Débora Godoy-Izqui, 2021. "Active Coping and Anxiety Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spanish Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-17, August.
    2. Ken Randall & Timothy G. Ford & Kyong-Ah Kwon & Susan S. Sisson & Matthew R. Bice & Danae Dinkel & Jessica Tsotsoros, 2021. "Physical Activity, Physical Well-Being, and Psychological Well-Being: Associations with Life Satisfaction during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Early Childhood Educators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-20, September.
    3. Jeong-Hui Park & Eunhye Yoo & Youngdeok Kim & Jung-Min Lee, 2021. "What Happened Pre- and during COVID-19 in South Korea? Comparing Physical Activity, Sleep Time, and Body Weight Status," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-13, May.
    4. Victoria Blom & Amanda Lönn & Björn Ekblom & Lena V. Kallings & Daniel Väisänen & Erik Hemmingsson & Gunnar Andersson & Peter Wallin & Andreas Stenling & Örjan Ekblom & Magnus Lindwall & Jane Salier E, 2021. "Lifestyle Habits and Mental Health in Light of the Two COVID-19 Pandemic Waves in Sweden, 2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-19, March.
    5. Ilse Adriana Gutiérrez-Pérez & Pedro Delgado-Floody & Daniel Jerez-Mayorga & Diego Soto-García & Felipe Caamaño-Navarrete & Isela Parra-Rojas & Nacim Molina-Gutiérrez & Iris Paola Guzmán-Guzmán, 2021. "Lifestyle and Sociodemographic Parameters Associated with Mental and Physical Health during COVID-19 Confinement in Three Ibero-American Countries. A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-13, May.
    6. Ibrahim A. Elshaer & Mohamed A. Zayed, 2022. "Before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Physical Fitness Association with Mental Health among Higher Education Students: A Multi-Group Analysis Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-14, November.
    7. Mateusz Ciski & Krzysztof Rząsa, 2023. "Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression in the Investigation of Local COVID-19 Anomalies Based on Population Age Structure in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-23, May.
    8. Malou Grubben & Sara Wiertsema & Remco Hoekman & Gerbert Kraaykamp, 2022. "Is Working from Home during COVID-19 Associated with Increased Sports Participation? Contexts of Sports, Sports Location and Socioeconomic Inequality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-12, August.
    9. Maria Elvén & Birgitta Kerstis & Jonas Stier & Charlotta Hellström & Petra von Heideken Wågert & Micael Dahlen & Daniel Lindberg, 2022. "Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Swedish Population Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-15, February.
    10. Yi-Ching Lee & Lindsey A. Malcein & Sojung Claire Kim, 2021. "Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Usage during COVID-19: Motivating Factors and Implications," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-14, March.
    11. Xiangyou Shen & Megan MacDonald & Samuel W. Logan & Colby Parkinson & Lydia Gorrell & Bridget E. Hatfield, 2022. "Leisure Engagement during COVID-19 and Its Association with Mental Health and Wellbeing in U.S. Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-22, January.
    12. Curtis Fennell & Thomas Eremus & Moisés Grimaldi Puyana & Borja Sañudo, 2022. "The Importance of Physical Activity to Augment Mood during COVID-19 Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-11, January.
    13. Giuditta Carretti & Daniela Mirandola & Sara Germano & Mirko Manetti & Mirca Marini, 2022. "Adapted Physical Activity Protocol for Lower Limb Functional and Strength Recovery in a Young Athlete with Cutaneous Melanoma: Feasibility and Efficacy during COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-13, August.
    14. Kele Ding & Jingzhen Yang & Ming-Kai Chin & Lindsay Sullivan & J. Larry Durstine & Verónica Violant-Holz & Giyasettin Demirhan & Nara R.C. Oliveira & Biljana Popeska & Garry Kuan & Waheeda Khan & Jian, 2021. "Physical Activity among Adults Residing in 11 Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-16, July.
    15. Jan Wilke & Lisa Mohr & Adam S. Tenforde & Pascal Edouard & Chiara Fossati & Marcela González-Gross & Celso Sánchez Ramírez & Fernando Laiño & Benedict Tan & Julian David Pillay & Fabio Pigozzi & Davi, 2021. "A Pandemic within the Pandemic? Physical Activity Levels Substantially Decreased in Countries Affected by COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-11, February.
    16. Sandra Haider & Lee Smith & Lovro Markovic & Felipe B. Schuch & Kabir P. Sadarangani & Guillermo Felipe Lopez Sanchez & Rubén Lopez-Bueno & Alejandro Gil-Salmerón & Anita Rieder & Mark A. Tully & Lena, 2021. "Associations between Physical Activity, Sitting Time, and Time Spent Outdoors with Mental Health during the First COVID-19 Lock Down in Austria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-12, August.
    17. Teresa Rubio-Tomás & Maria Skouroliakou & Dimitrios Ntountaniotis, 2022. "Lockdown Due to COVID-19 and Its Consequences on Diet, Physical Activity, Lifestyle, and Other Aspects of Daily Life Worldwide: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-41, June.
    18. Emanuele Caroppo & Marianna Mazza & Alessandra Sannella & Giuseppe Marano & Carla Avallone & Angelo Emilio Claro & Delfina Janiri & Lorenzo Moccia & Luigi Janiri & Gabriele Sani, 2021. "Will Nothing Be the Same Again?: Changes in Lifestyle during COVID-19 Pandemic and Consequences on Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-8, August.
    19. Federico Roggio & Bruno Trovato & Silvia Ravalli & Michelino Di Rosa & Grazia Maugeri & Antonino Bianco & Antonio Palma & Giuseppe Musumeci, 2021. "One Year of COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy: Effect of Sedentary Behavior on Physical Activity Levels and Musculoskeletal Pain among University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-17, August.
    20. Dejan Reljic & Annalena Eichhorn & Hans J. Herrmann & Markus F. Neurath & Yurdagül Zopf, 2022. "Very Low-Volume, High-Intensity Interval Training Mitigates Negative Health Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic-Induced Physical Inactivity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-19, September.

    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:20:y:2022:i:1:p:95-:d:1010637. 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.