The impact of the universities closure on physical activity and academic performance in physical education in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background and Study Aim. Physical activity (PA) is regarded as a critical component of a healthy lifestyle and disease prevention. Different constraints placed upon social interaction and public spaces due to COVID-19 could decrease PA and academic performance in physical education (PE) in student population. The purpose of the research was to assess overall and sport/fitness PA level and academic performance in PE in a sample of university students pre- to post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods. Participants (n=209) – university students (19-20 years old). The overall period of the research is September-December 2020. All participants (male–n=106 and female–n=103) were divided into approximately equal groups: humanities students (male–MG-1, female–FG-1), medicine students (male–MG-2, female–FG-2), technical students (male–MG-3, female–FG-3). The main research tools: modified student self-reported questionnaire (on the base of IPAQ), academic grading (scores for self-completed PE tasks). In surveys, all participants self-rated overall and sport/fitness PA level pre- to post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes. The participants had to complete 32 special PE tasks, during the research period. PE teachers rated participants by a special grading scale. Results. For the male and female students’ groups there were no significant differences of overall PA, sport/fitness PA level and academic performance in PE pre-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes. All participants significantly (p≤0.05) decreased overall PA, sport/fitness PA level and academic performance in PE post-cancellation. There was a significant (p≤0.05) large amount of overall PA level in MG-2 students and sport/fitness PA level in MG-1 students’ post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes. For the male students there were no significant differences of grading in PE pre- to post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes between participants groups. There was a significant (p≤0.05) large amount of overall PA level post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes in FG-2 students. There was a significantly (p≤0.05) lower amount of sport/fitness PA level post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes in FG-3 students. There was a significant drop in mean grading scores in PE post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes in students. FG-2 participants had significantly (p≤0.05) higher grading scores in PE post-cancellation of face-to-face PE classes. Conclusions. The universities closure and cancellation of face-to-face PE classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic decreased overall PA, sport/fitness PA level and academic performance in PE in all participants. It is important to note that the proportional decrease in overall PA for the male students was actually large, then decrease in overall PA for the female students was less. The findings highlight the need for active interventions of PA promotion targeted at the student population in the context of self-isolation measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Цель: Физическая активность (ФА) рассматривается как важнейший компонент здорового образа жизни и профилактики заболеваний. Различные ограничения, накладываемые на социальное взаимодействие и общественные пространства из-за COVID-19, могут понизить уровень ФА и академическую успеваемость по физическому воспитанию (ФВ) у студентов. Целью исследования была оценка уровня общей и физкультурно-спортивной ФА и академической успеваемости по ФВ в выборке студентов университетов до и после отмены очных занятий по физической культуре из-за пандемии COVID-19. Материал: Участники (n=209) - студенты (возраст - 19-20 лет). Общий период проведения исследования - сентябрь-декабрь 2020 года. Все участники (юноши - n=106 и девушки - n=103) были разделены на примерно равные группы: студенты гуманитарных специальностей (юноши - MG-1, девушки - FG-1), студенты-медики (юноши - MG-2, девушки - FG-2), студенты технических специальностей (юноши - MG-3, девушки - FG-3). Основной инструментарий исследования: модифицированный опросник самоотчета студентов (на основе IPAQ), учебные оценки (баллы за самостоятельно выполненные задания по физической культуре). В ходе опросов все участники самостоятельно оценивали уровень общей и физкультурно-спортивной ФА до и после отмены очных занятий по физмческой культуре в вузах. В течение исследования участники должны были выполнить 32 специальных задания по физкультуре. Учителя физической культуры оценивали участников по специальной шкале. Результаты: Не было выявлено достоверных различий в уровне общей и физкультурно-спортивной ФА и академической успеваемости по физической культуре...