Psychological well-being and physical activity among students during the COVID-19 pandemic: The moderating role of gender

Pandemija COVID-19 za mnoge je bila vrlo stresno razdoblje te je negativno utjecala na psihološku dobrobit ljudi. Prethodna istraživanja pokazala su da tjelesna aktivnost smanjuje osjećaje stresa, anksioznosti i depresije. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi odnos tjelesne aktivnosti i psihološke dobrobiti tijekom pandemije COVID-19 i ispitati ulogu spola u tom odnosu. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo ukupno 340 studenata hrvatskih sveučilišta ( Nžena = 248, Nmuškaraca = 87) s prosječnim brojem godina M = 21.7 (SD = 1.83) raspona od 18 do 26 godina. Na uzorku je primijenjena Skala psihološke dobrobiti i Upitnik o tjelesnom vježbanju u slobodno vrijeme. Rezultati statističke analize utvrdili su da različito tjelesno aktivni studenti pokazuju različite razine psihološke dobrobiti. Umjereno aktivni i aktivni studenti u odnosu na nedovoljno aktivne studente pokazuju veće rezultate na sljedećim dimenzijama psihološke dobrobiti: upravljanje okolinom, osobni rast, pozitivni odnosi s drugima i samoprihvaćanje. Pokazana razlika psihološke dobrobiti manje i više tjelesno aktivnih jednaka je kod studenata i studentica.The COVID-19 pandemic was very stressful period for many and it had a negative impact on psychological well-being. Previous research has shown that physical activity reduces feelings od stress, anxiety and depression. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between physical activity and psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and to examine the role of gender in this relationship. A total of 340 Croatian university students participated in the research (Nfemales = 248, Nmales = 87) with an average age of M = 21.7 (SD = 1.83) ranging from 18 to 26 years. The Psychological Well-Being Scale and the Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire were applied to the sample. The results of the statistical analysis revealed that differently physically active students exhibit varying levels of psychological well-being. Moderately active and active students, compared to insufficiently active students, demonstrated higher scores in the following dimensions of psychological well-being: environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, and self-acceptance. The demonstrated difference in psychological well-being between less and more physically active individuals is equal among male and female students