Levels of Physical Activity and Psychological Well-Being in Non-Athletes and Martial Art Athletes during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Adaptations of the Autonomic Nervous System and Body Composition After 8 Weeks of Specific Training and Nutritional Re-Education in Amateur Muay Thai Fighters: A Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

Considering that the nervous system regulates cardiac autonomic modulation (CAM) and that low CAM is associated with poorer performance, it is essential to evaluate the effects of training to increase parasympathetic modulation in Muay Thai (MT) fighters. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an 8-week intervention based on strength training and nutritional counseling on performance, CAM, and nutritional status in amateur MT fighters.

METHODS

This is a longitudinal and interventional study in which 22 MT fighters underwent a strength training program and nutritional protocol. Before and after the intervention, they underwent the ten-second frequency speed of kick test (FSKT-10s), multiple frequency speed of kick test (FSKT-mult), bioimpedance analysis (BIA), and assessment of heart rate variability.

RESULTS

After the intervention, there was an increase in the number of kicks in both FSKT-10s and FSKT-mult (p = 0.0008 and p = 0.032, respectively). In BIA, there was a significant increase in both fat-free mass and basal metabolic rate (p = 0.031 and p = 0.020, respectively). After the intervention, significant increases were observed during the physical test in the following variables that denote improvement in parasympathetic modulation: square root of the mean squared differences of successive RR intervals (p = 0.005); percentage of adjacent RR intervals with a difference in duration greater than 50 ms (p = 0.002); high frequency range (p < 0.0001); and standard deviation measuring the dispersion of points in the plot perpendicular to the line of identity (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

In amateur MT fighters, an intervention with strength training and nutritional guidance is able to improve CAM through greater parasympathetic activation. Furthermore, there is an improvement in performance and body composition after the intervention.

Differences in Mental Health Characteristics of Japanese Athletes in Outpatient Clinics Pre- and Post-Covid-19: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Purpose

To investigate the differences in characteristics between Japanese athletes who visited mental health outpatient clinics before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patients and Methods

Athletes who visited various healthcare facilities between 2018 and 2022 were considered. The independent variable was the timing of outpatient mental health clinic visits-either before or after COVID-19. The primary outcome was the F classification based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision. We collected data on clinical psychiatric diagnoses, age, sex, referral pathway, and sports-related information such as the type of sport, level of contact, individual/team sport, involvement duration, and athletic competition level. Between-group comparisons were performed among the pre- and post-COVID-19 groups using the t-test, Mann-Whitney test, and chi-square test.

Results

Eighty-six athletes (37 before COVID-19 and 49 after COVID-19) were deemed eligible for the study. No significant differences were detected between the pre- and post-COVID-19 groups. However, subgroup analyses revealed a significant increase in anxiety-related disorders among female athletes and in participation in individual sports among male athletes in the post-COVID-19 group compared with the pre-COVID-19 group.

Conclusion

The increased anxiety among female athletes and the increased participation in individual sports among male athletes suggest that these groups should be a high-priority target for early intervention and prevention strategies. This study contributes to our understanding of how COVID-19 has affected the mental health of athletes seeking medical treatment in Japan, and it highlights which segments of the Japanese athlete population may be more vulnerable to mental health issues in the post-COVID-19 era. Although the sample size is small, this study also provides valuable insights for practitioners on how to target specific segments of the athlete population for the implementation of interventions aimed at mitigating the development of mental health issues after COVID-19.

Indonesian martial artists' preferences in martial arts schools: Sustaining business competitiveness through conjoint analysis

The popularity of martial arts in the present times has become apparent, therefore, it is necessary to explore martial artists' preferences and the schools' competitiveness. The purpose of this study was to assess martial artists' preferences concerning the services offered by martial arts schools. Conjoint analysis was utilized to analyze the responses of fifty-five (55) martial artists based on the seven (7) martial arts schools' attributes. The results showed that the type of martial arts was found to be the most important attribute (30.449%) followed by distance (27.970%), price range (22.706%), social environment (11.097%), class preference (5.080%), goal (1.562%), and schedule (1.135%). Furthermore, Muay Thai or Kickboxing was the most preferred martial art, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) was the second priority, next was Taekwondo, then Karate, and finally Boxing. In addition, the martial artists' preferred distance was less than 8 km, and a monthly training cost of 150,000 to 450,000 IDR (10 to 20 USD). Martial artists liked attending open classes, treated martial arts as a hobby, and favored attending classes once or twice weekly. With the lack of conjoint-related studies in the martial arts industry, the findings contributed to academicians and addressed issues of inadequate studies. Most importantly, the researchers presented managerial implications to leverage marketing techniques and develop the business operations of martial arts schools.

Sociodemographic Profile, Health Conditions, and Burden of Informal Caregivers of Older Adults in Brazil During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional, Exploratory, Noninterventional, Descriptive Study

BACKGROUND

Demographic changes in the world population have resulted in an increasingly aging society, with a progressive increase in the number of people in situations of dependence, who require assistance from family members to meet their basic needs. Caring for older adults involves performing diverse activities, resulting in reduced free time and tiredness, and fulfilling the demands and expectations related to personal, family, physical, and social life, consequently compromising the quality of life of the caregiver. In this context, the informal caregiver of hospitalized older adults emerges as the focus of attention.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe the sociodemographic profile, health conditions, and burden of informal caregivers of older adults admitted to a university hospital in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study that was conducted with 25 informal caregivers of hospitalized older adults in a university hospital in Brazil between August and September 2022. Three instruments were applied: Caregiver Burden Inventory, sociodemographic questionnaire, and health conditions questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 28.0. Descriptive (frequency and percentage) and inferential analyses were performed using 2-sided Student t test with 95% CIs.

RESULTS

Of the 25 interviewees, 18 (72%) were females, 17 (46%) were married or in a stable union, 14 (56%) completed secondary education, and 11 (44%) lived with the older adults who needed care. The average age of the participants was 44 (SD 12.8) years. Regarding their health conditions, most caregivers self-reported it as good (12/25, 48%). They provided care to their father or mother older than 70 years (14/25, 56%). The Caregiver Burden Inventory analysis showed that the caregivers were the most negatively impacted in the domains of personal life overload (mean 10.8, SD 3.46; P=.047) and physical overload (mean 10.6, SD 2.32; P=.02).

CONCLUSIONS

In recent years, there has been an increase in the burden on informal caregivers of hospitalized older adults in Brazil, thereby impacting their personal and physical lives. The findings of our study show that health care professionals should be trained to promote health guidelines and actions to improve the personal and physical lives of the caregiver population in Brazil.

Psychological resilience in athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative insight

This study employs a qualitative research methodology to comprehensively investigate the psychological resilience of athletes impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through purposeful sampling, a diverse group of athletes representing various sports, competitive levels, and geographic locations was selected, ensuring a holistic exploration of their experiences. Data collection centered on in-depth interviews, utilizing a semi-structured approach guided by predetermined open-ended questions. Ethical standards were meticulously upheld, with informed consent obtained from all participants, and strict measures in place to safeguard their confidentiality and anonymity. Prior to data collection, pilot testing of interview questions was conducted to enhance their clarity and appropriateness. Subsequently, data analysis involved the meticulous transcription of field-notes and audio-recordings into protocols and transcripts, followed by systematic coding facilitated by qualitative data management software. To enhance research rigor, strategies including reflexivity, member-checking, and collaborative coding were embraced. This comprehensive methodology facilitated a deep and nuanced exploration of athletes' experiences, perceptions, and coping strategies during the pandemic, ultimately contributing valuable insights to the study of psychological resilience in sports. The findings shed light on the challenges athletes faced, the support systems and personal attributes that fostered resilience, and the role of well-being practices like mindfulness and self-care in enhancing psychological resilience. The implications of this research extend to proactive strategies for sports organizations and stakeholders, fostering a culture of resilience, and empowering athletes to thrive in the face of adversity, ultimately promoting their long-term psychological well-being.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity and sleep among healthy adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on physical and mental health, while physical activity and sleep are two important indicators of the impact that have been explored in recent studies. However, the results of studies with different measurement methods and populations with different levels of physical activity have been diverse in that physical activity and sleep are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in some studies but not in others. Our study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity and sleep and the role of measurement methods and populations on results.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI databases were used to search for related studies systematically. Study characteristics and data on physical activity and sleep were collected and analyzed from each included study. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate pooled effect sizes.

Results

A total of 13 articles were included in the systematic review, 11 of which were included in the meta-analysis. We found that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) time was 0.33 (95% CI 0.07 to 0.59) and sleep quality was 0.37 (95% CI 0.21 to 0.53) decreased, while sleep duration was -0.24 (95% CI -0.28 to -0.20) increased during the lockdown; overall physical activity time had no significant difference (p = 0.07) during the lockdown. The "wearables" subgroup had no heterogeneity (p = 0.89, I² = 0) in sleep duration, while MVPA time measured by subjective scales was not significantly changed. The "elite athletes" subgroup had lower heterogeneity (p = 0.69, I² = 0) in sleep duration than general adults, while the results of sleep quality for population subgroups were significant and there was no heterogeneity within either.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on MVPA time, sleep duration, and sleep quality, instead of overall physical activity time among healthy adults. The results of MVPA time and sleep duration were greatly influenced by the measurement methods, and sleep behavior differed among populations with varying physical activity levels. Thus, when researching physical activity, especially MVPA time, should consider measurement methods, and more attention should be given to differences in populations when researching sleep behavior.

Changes in physical activity during the COVID-19 lockdown based on the sociodemographic profile of 5569 students and academic staff of Austrian universities

OBJECTIVES

The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions/lockdowns have influenced the health and lifestyle behaviour of university students and staff, particularly their physical activity (PA) habits. However, the association between the direction of PA changes and sociodemographic characteristics has not been studied. This nationwide study was conducted in Austrian colleges/universities and aimed to identify the magnitude and direction of changes in PA levels during the COVID-19 restrictions and compare participants who had unchanged vs decreased vs increased PA based on sociodemographic characteristics (sex, age, body mass index, study level, living area, nationality and Austrian regions).

STUDY DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study to measure the association between the explanatory variable and outcome measures.

METHODS

A total number of 4528 students (mean age 24.9 years) and 1041 academic staff (mean age 46.4 years) participated in an online survey and provided self-reported data on sociodemographic characteristics and PA change during the pandemic.

RESULTS

A total of 41.3% of students and 37.5% of academic staff reported a decrease in PA level, whereas PA levels increased in 36.3% and 27.9%, respectively. In students, all sociodemographic variables (including sex, age, body mass index, study level, living area, nationality and Austrian regions) were significantly associated with the direction of PA changes (P < 0.05). Living area and Austrian region were found to be significant indicators of direction of PA changes in academic staff (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that the inconsistency of previous studies in PA change during the pandemic may at least partly be explained by differences in the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants.

Physical Activity Levels and Psychological Well-Being during COVID-19 Lockdown among University Students and Employees

During the lockdown for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), entire populations were instructed to live in home confinement. We investigated the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on the physical activity (PA) and mental health of students and employees in a Colombian University. A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey during the first isolation. A total of 431 respondents (192 males) aged 18-60 years old (28.1 ± 11.1 years) participated. The international Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the short version of the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI-S) were used. The lockdown had a negative effect on PA levels, with students exhibiting the greatest decrease (~34%; p ˂ 0.001) compared to employees (~24%; p ˂ 0.01). The analysis showed a greater change in PA behavior before and during the lockdown in highly active student participants (5750 vs. 5141 MET min/week; p < 0.05). Additionally, the psychological assessment revealed a lower score in students compared to employees in the male (70.1 vs. 82.6) and female groups (60.2 vs. 79.6). Moreover, the results revealed an influence of sex, with only the female students exhibiting a state of distress. Self-reported PA and psychological well-being were compromised during the COVID-19 lockdown in the academic community, with students and females being more affected.

COVID-19 Pandemic and International Students' Mental Health in China: Age, Gender, Chronic Health Condition and Having Infected Relative as Risk Factors

International students in China were among the first group of individuals to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the pandemic's impact on their mental health is underexplored. This study-utilizing web-based survey data (N = 381), presents preliminary reports using ANOVA and MIMIC analytic approaches. Following the clinical demarcation of the 21-item version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), we found 24.6%, 38.3%, and 43.6% of the students to suffer mild to extreme stress, anxiety, and depression, respectively. Female students reported significantly higher levels of stress and depression than males. Older students' reports of stress were more substantial than younger students. Students who reported having a relative infected with the virus (vs. those without) experienced significantly higher anxiety and stress. Those who reported having pre-existing chronic health condition(s) (vs. those without) also reported significantly higher stress, anxiety, and depression levels. Moreover, students with an exercise routine (vs. those without) experienced significantly lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Last, our MIMIC model results indicate that foreign students' age, gender, chronic health status, and having a relative infected with the virus constitute significant risk factors explaining variations in foreign students' experience of psychological distress. Implications for international students' management have been thoroughly discussed.