ABSTRACT
Resumen Antecedentes La pandemia por COVID-19 ha impactado en la actividad física y salud psicológica de estudiantes universitarios. Objetivo Analizar el comportamiento de la actividad física durante la pandemia por COVID-19 y su asociación con el bienestar subjetivo y salud mental en estudiantes universitarios en Chile. Método Estudio transversal en una muestra de 469 estudiantes de diferentes universidades de Chile (67,4% mujeres, M= 21,7 DT= 2,45 años). Se midió el comportamiento de la actividad física, bienestar subjetivo y salud mental. Resultados Los estudiantes que mantuvieron un comportamiento físicamente activo antes y durante la pandemia presentaron mayor bienestar subjetivo (hombres: p = 0,020; y mujeres p <0,0001) que quienes se mantuvieron físicamente inactivos antes y durante la pandemia (mujeres M= 4,84, DE= 1,64; hombres M= 4,46, DT= 1,27). Las mujeres que se volvieron físicamente inactivas durante la pandemia tuvieron menos experiencias afectivas negativas que mujeres que eran inactivas antes de la pandemia ( F (3,293)=3,118; p =0,026). La sintomatología de salud mental se reportó con menor frecuencia en estudiantes físicamente activos que inactivos. Conclusión Estudiantes que se mantuvieron físicamente activos antes y durante la pandemia mostraron mejores indicadores de bienestar subjetivo y salud mental que quienes se mantuvieron físicamente inactivos o pasaron a ser físicamente inactivos durante la pandemia. La actividad física debe promoverse en la educación superior, debido a su potencial efecto protector en el manejo de consecuencias psicológicas durante una crisis pandémica.
Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on the physical activity and psychological health of university students. Objective To analyze the physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with subjective well-being and mental health in university students in Chile. Method Cross-sectional study in a sample of 469 students from different Chilean universities (67.4% women, M = 21.7 SD = 2.45 years). The physical activity, subjective well-being and mental health was measured. Results Students who maintained a physically active behavior before and during the pandemic presented higher subjective well-being (men: p = 0.020; and women p <0.0001) than those who were physically inactive before and during the pandemic (women M = 4 , 84, SD = 1.64; men M = 4.46, SD = 1.27). Women who became physically inactive during the pandemic had fewer negative affective experiences than women who were inactive before the pandemic (F (3,293) = 3.118, p = 0.026). Mental health symptoms were reported less frequently in physically active than inactive students. Conclusion Students who were physically active before and during the pandemic showed better indicators of subjective well-being and mental health than those who were physically inactive or became physically inactive during the pandemic. Physical activity should be promoted in higher education, due to its potential protective effect in managing psychological consequences during a pandemic crisis.