ASSOCIAÇÃO ENTRE ATIVIDADE FÍSICA E PERCEPÇÃO SUBJETIVA DE ESTRESSE EM ESTUDANTES UNIVERSITÁRIOS EM PERÍODO PANDÊMICO: 24H-MESYN STUDY

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20873/2024_v3_2

Abstract

General Theme: Biological and Health Sciences Objective: To test the association between physical activity and subjective stress in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that evaluated 195 university students (68.7% female; 44.6% aged between 21 and 25 years; 65.8% health sciences course; 24.5% enrolled in the 1st to 3rd semester) from 17 to 52 years old. The data was collected in 2021 in the city of Imperatriz, MA. We collected data online using the Perceived Stress Scale (14 items) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short version, 8 items). We assessed positive and negative stress dimension scores as outcomes (representing perceived self-efficacy and helplessness, respectively), while walking and moderate to vigorous physical activity were the independent variables/exposures (in minutes/day). Potential confounders were biological sex; age; ethnicity; maternal education; undergraduate course (in health sciences or other), shift (morning, afternoon, evening or full-time), schedule (≤ 3rd or > 3rd semester), number of classes enrolled and hours of study per day. We assessed associations using multilevel linear regression models. Results: When adjusting the models for biological sex, age, ethnicity and time since graduation, we observed that higher levels of walking (β = 0.02 [95% CI 0.001 to 0.03]) were associated with higher scores in the dimension positive impact on perceived stress. Conclusion: Walking was associated with a positive dimension of perceived stress in university students during the pandemic period.

Keywords: Walking; Stress; Students.

Published

2024-03-30

How to Cite

Alves dos Santos, E., Marinho Franco, A., & Nascimento Ferreira, M. V. (2024). ASSOCIAÇÃO ENTRE ATIVIDADE FÍSICA E PERCEPÇÃO SUBJETIVA DE ESTRESSE EM ESTUDANTES UNIVERSITÁRIOS EM PERÍODO PANDÊMICO: 24H-MESYN STUDY. DESAFIOS - Revista Interdisciplinar Da Universidade Federal Do Tocantins, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.20873/2024_v3_2