Effects of COVID-19 on positive emotions and physical activity in university students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24310/riccafd.14.3.2025.22009Keywords:
university student, well-being, emotion, COVID-19, remote learning, e-learningAbstract
The declaration of a state of emergency to manage the COVID-19 was a significant turning point for many sectors, including education, and had an impact on physical activity levels with the consequent damage to both physical and mental health. This study analyzed levels of physical activity (high, medium, and low) and the perception of positive emotions at two different times (pre-COVID and COVID) among university students. For the positive emotions variable, the existence of significant differences at the two time points and based on gender were analyzed, also checking for difference according to levels of physical activity. Positive emotions were higher in the male sample and significantly greater in the pre-COVID period, with significant gender differences observed during the COVID period. Levels of physical activity were consistently higher in the pre-COVID period in all cases. These results highlight the importance of physical activity in the emotional well-being of university students. Therefore, universities should design and implement programs that promote regular participation in physical activity among students, leading to an improvement in well-being and learning experiences.
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