Investigation of Anxiety, Depression and Physical Activity Levels in University Students In The Process of the Covid 19 Pandemic

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to determine the anxiety, depression, and physical activity levels of university students during the pandemic process and to reveal the relationship between them. Material and Methods: A total of 132 students between the ages of 18-25 studying at Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Departments were included in the study. Participants were evaluated with the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale Short Form, Beck Depression Scale, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form. Results: According to the data we obtained from the evaluation results, the mean age of the participants was 21.20±0.15. 68.9% (n=91) of the participants were female and 31.1% (n=41) were male. The mean coronavirus anxiety scale of the participants was found to be 8.19±0.866. When the depression level of the participants was classified, 43.9% had minimal depression, 21.2% had mild depression, 25.8% had moderate depression, 9%,1 of them were in the severe depression class. While 32.6% of the participants reported that they exercised regularly, their physical activity levels were 63.6% inactive, 27.3% minimally active, 9% very active. There was a moderate positive correlation between regular exercise and a decrease in coronavirus anxiety (r=0.460, p<0.01), and a weak correlation between increased physical activity level (r=0.182, p<0.05). A moderate positive correlation was found between the presence of chronic disease and the level of depression (r=0.317, p<0.01). Conclusion: Although it has been a long time since the Covid 19 pandemic process, we still think that the negative effects of the pandemic's anxiety, depression, and physical activity levels continue.