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Ofili PC, Ede MO, Anyaegbunam NJ, Oforka KO, Okereke IE, Umeifekwem JE, Bosa CN, Ngwoke SOR, Okoroafor U, Oyibo MA, Ogueri EO, Ibhafido A, Abbah OI, Nwakamma JC, Ezeufodiama SC, Okechukwu EC, Omeye RO, Nwaiwu N, Anozie KC, Ikediashi OE, Ogbochie AN, Obeagu EI, Okoroafor JC, Odo EO. Physical activity and depressive symptoms during the fifth wave of COVID-19 pandemic: Implication for public policy and administrators. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e37155. [PMID: 38363916 PMCID: PMC10869065 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000037155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Depression is a public mental health problem that can progress to suicidal ideation, literature suggests regular physical activity may ameliorate it. The study assessed the link between physical activity and depression symptoms during the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Academic Staff Union (ASU) strike among undergraduates. Four hundred and eighteen undergraduates were recruited and participated in the study. Participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to measure depression severity. The result on PA showed that about one-third of the participants were inactive, above half were moderately active, while a few achieved high PA levels. Above one-fifth of the participants experienced minimal or no depression while a good percent had mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression. Non-parametric tests between PA total score and depression total score with demographic variables were not significant. Spearman's correlation showed a strong negative relationship between PHQ-9 scores and IPAQ-SF scores. This suggests that a high PA level is associated with lower depression symptoms. The COVID-19 pandemic and the ASU strike experiences resulted in increased depression among undergraduates. The university administration needs to formulate an urgent policy to promote PA among undergraduates and provide treatment for the affected students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perpetua Chinyere Ofili
- Department of Human Kinetic and Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Moses Onyemaechi Ede
- Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | | | - Kingsley Okechukwu Oforka
- Department of Human Kinetic and Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Innocent Ebere Okereke
- Department of Science Education, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Joshua Emeka Umeifekwem
- Department of Human Kinetic and Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Chukwuebuka Nnagozie Bosa
- Department of Human Kinetic and Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | | | - Uzochukwu Okoroafor
- Department of Human kinetics and Sports Studies, Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, Imo State
| | - Melitus Amadi Oyibo
- Department of Human kinetics and Sports Studies, Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, Imo State
| | - Emmanuel Obinna Ogueri
- Department of Human kinetics and Sports Studies, Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, Imo State
| | - Akhere Ibhafido
- Department of Human kinetics and Sports Studies, Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, Imo State
| | - Oliver Igwebuike Abbah
- Department of Human Kinetic and Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Jude Chikezie Nwakamma
- Department of Human kinetics and Sports Studies, Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, Imo State
| | - Stella C. Ezeufodiama
- Department of Human kinetics and Sports Studies, Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, Imo State
| | | | - Rita Okechukwu Omeye
- Department of Human Kinetic and Health Education, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Nnochiri Nwaiwu
- Department of Human kinetics and Sports Studies, Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, Imo State
| | - Keyna Chinyere Anozie
- Department of Human kinetics and Sports Studies, Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, Imo State
| | - Olisa Emmanuel Ikediashi
- Department of Human kinetics and Sports Studies, Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri, Imo State
| | - Andrew Nnabuchi Ogbochie
- Department of Public Administration and Local Government, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | | | - Judith Chikamma Okoroafor
- Department of Human Kinetics and Sports Studies, Faculty of Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
| | - Edward Odogbu Odo
- Health and Physical Education, School of General Studies, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
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