Frequency of physical activity and stress levels among Brazilian adults during social distancing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19)

cross-sectional study

Authors

Keywords:

Epidemiology, Pandemics, Exercise

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic may be having many psychological impacts on people, at both an individual and a community level. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the relationship between the weekly frequency of physical activity and levels of stress among Brazilian adults during social distancing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), and the interaction of sex in this association. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study with a descriptive approach conducted at a public university in Curitiba (PR), Brazil. METHODS: 2,000 Brazilian adults (average age 36.4 years; 59.6% women) were recruited according to convenience through digital media. They filled out a questionnaire in electronic format that asked for sociodemographic information, health data, food consumption data, weekly frequency of physical activity and stress levels on the 10-item Kessler psychological distress scale. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used to evaluate the data. RESULTS: Associations were observed for the following correlations: male sex * no physical activity (odds ratio (OR): 4.35; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14-16.67); female sex * physical activity 4 or 5 times a week (OR: 7.86; 95% CI: 2.28-27.05); female sex * physical activity 3 times a week (OR: 7.32; 95% CI: 2.09-25.58); female sex * physical activity 1 or 2 times a week (OR: 14.57; 95% CI: 4.28-49.57); and female sex * no physical activity (OR: 24.17; 95% CI: 7.21-80.97). CONCLUSION: The lower the weekly frequency of physical activity during the period of social distancing was, the greater the chances of having stress levels were, especially for women.

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Author Biographies

Edina Maria de Camargo, Universidade Federal do Paraná

PhD. Physical Education Teacher, Postgraduate Program on Physical Education, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba (PR), Brazil.

Thiago Silva Piola, Universidade Federal do Paraná

PhD. Physical Education Teacher, Postgraduate Program on Physical Education, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba (PR), Brazil.

Letícia Pechnicki dos Santos, Universidade Federal do Paraná

MSc. Physical Education Teacher, Postgraduate Program on Physical Education, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Curitiba (PR), Brazil.

Edilson Fernando de Borba

BSc. Physical Education Teacher, Postgraduate Program on Physical Education, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba (PR), Brazil.

Wagner de Campos, Universidade Federal do Paraná

PhD. Physical Education Teacher, Postgraduate Program on Physical Education, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba (PR), Brazil.

Sergio Gregorio da Silva, Universidade Federal do Paraná

PhD. Physical Education Teacher, Postgraduate Program on Physical Education, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba (PR), Brazil.

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Published

2021-07-01

How to Cite

1.
Camargo EM de, Piola TS, Santos LP dos, Borba EF de, Campos W de, Silva SG da. Frequency of physical activity and stress levels among Brazilian adults during social distancing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19): cross-sectional study. Sao Paulo Med J [Internet]. 2021 Jul. 1 [cited 2025 Mar. 14];139(4):325-30. Available from: https://periodicosapm.emnuvens.com.br/spmj/article/view/478

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Original Article