Atividades física, comportamento sedentário e percepção de ansiedade, estresse e angústia relacionada à pandemia de COVID-19

Abstract

Objective: analyze and test the association between physical activity, sedentary behavior and anxiety, stress and distress, in the context of the pandemic, in the college community. Methods: cross-sectional study, using data from the research entitled "Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the lifestyle of students and servers of higher education institutions", conducted from August to October 2020. All variables (sociodemographic, university attachment, and health behaviors related to the COVID-19 pandemic) were assessed by online questionnaire. Descriptive measures of relative and absolute frequency were used. Pearson's chi-square test was used, adopting p-value < 0.05. Results: Daily physical activity routine is not part of the lifestyle for almost a third of the participants (n = 50, 32.1%); greater practice than before the pandemic of household physical activity, (n = 95, 60.5%); greater disposition to sedentary behavior in sitting, lying and stooping positions (n = 114, 72.6%), and greater use of laptops or computers (n = 108, 69.2%) were identified. Too much stress (in thinking about the future) (n = 106, 67.9%), and feeling distress in maintaining social distance (n = 95, 60.9%). Not having a physical activity routine (n = 40, 25.6%; = p = 0.044), lower practice of moderate physical activity [walking and running (n = 39, 25.2%; = p = 0.048)], and the use of cell phone or tablet use much higher than before the pandemic (n = 98, 62.8%; = p = <0.0001), all associated with stress in thinking about the future. Conclusion: Greater perception of anxiety, stress and distress were evidenced in people who accumulated more sedentary behavior, less practice and lower levels of physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.