Effectiveness of Physical Activity Counseling in University Students Educated by Distance Learning During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized-Controlled Trial.

Abstract

Purpose: Students educated by distance learning experienced more physical inactivity and poorer quality of life (QOL) due to COVID-19 pandemic. Current study aimed to reveal the impacts of 4-week physical activity counseling (PAC) on step counts, physical activity (PA), anxiety, depression, and QOL in university students. Methods: Students (19.97±1.14 years) were randomly grouped as PAC (n=15, progressive increases in step counts) or control (n=16, maintaining routine activities). Step count, PA, anxiety, depression, and QOL were evaluated remotely. The students were followed up between December 2020 and March 2021. Results: Out of all students (4147.32±2916.54 steps/day), 29% were inactive; 67.7% had anxiety; 61.3% were depressed before PAC. After PAC, step count (mean difference (MD): 3999.69 steps/day, Cohen’s d=1.8), total walking (MD: 734.15 MET-min/week, Cohen’s d=0.4) and total PA (MD: 924.22 MET-min/week, Cohen’s d=0.4) scores, and role limitations due to emotional problems, vitality, and emotional well-being subscales scores of QOL significantly increased in PAC group compared with controls; anxiety scores decreased vice versa (p<0.05). Changes in depression, total vigorous and moderate PA scores, and other QOL subscales scores were similar between groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: While PAC, a feasible, effective, and safe method during COVID-19 pandemic, improved anxiety, step count, PA level and QOL in students, PAC did not affect depression and some domains of QOL. Therefore, PAC should be offered to students and explored in other segments of society to prevent long-term effects of COVID-19.

Keywords

• Anxiety
• COVID-19
• depression
• exercise
• quality of life
• telehealth

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