To a greater or lesser extent, much of the world in 2020 has resorted to quarantine to stop the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Stay home” was the slogan that was reproduced in all languages. Necessary to try to contain the advance of the virus, but not harmless, especially for mental health. To find strategies that could be used for future pandemics – which we are known to face – and for this, which is not yet over, the researchers looked at the impact of physical activity during closure. Spoiler: works.
Physical activity promotes mental health during closure, because its decrease in that period was caused psychological problems in the current population, according to research conducted by four Spanish and one Canadian university.
This research describes the effect of physical activity on the psychological health of the population during the onset of the pandemic, to determine whether movement can be a good strategy to contribute to emotional well-being in other possible pandemics, points out from the International University of La Rioja (UNIR).
Unrelated to this study, a survey conducted by IPSOS researcher among 22,000 participants in 30 countries, the results of which were published this week, found that 27% increased the amount of exercise since the beginning of the pandemic, over time. what 23% increased it. It decreased (in Argentina, it was almost a tie, but the most sedentary “won” by a narrow margin: 27% compared to 28%). On the other hand, regular exercise was identified by 38% of those surveyed globally as the measure most likely to reduce the risk of severe symptoms of Covid-19 (even earlier than other postulated options, such as giving up when smoking, take vitamin D or lose weight).
Move, whenever and wherever
Researchers from UNIR, the University of Barcelona, the University of La Laguna, Ramon Llull University in Barcelona and the University of British Columbia in Vancouver (Canada) described in their paper published in International Journal of Environmental and Public Health Research the effect of physical activity on the psychological health of the population during closure, based on systematic review of scientific evidence on the impact of the pandemic.
It is a first step in an investigation to determine if sports practice can be a good strategy for contributes to emotional well-being in the event of a pandemic.
“The closure caused psychological disorders in people, more in adults than in children“said researcher María Gloria Gallego-Jiménez, from UNIR, who added that the paper showed that” the population sought resources to practice sports, using technology “.
The researchers found 180 scientific articles published between January 1, 2019 – July 15, 2020 in all research databases. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, they selected 15 for the research. The study is part of an international project to study the relationship between physical activity and mental health during the pandemic, in which 15 countries are collaborating.
This systematic review summarizes existing evidence on the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the psychological well-being of adult populations and the effects of physical activity on psychological health at that time.
In adults, the impact was greater than in boys, according to the researchers. Illustrative photo Shutterstock.
The review of the articles concluded that the pandemic and containment measures caused it stress, anxiety, social isolation and psychological suffering in adults; as well as higher-than-usual levels of depression and anxiety among medical staff.
In addition, several studies specifically address how adults became more sedentary during quarantine and decreased their level of physical activity, with harmful psychological results.