LEVEL AND PATTERNS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION STUDENTS IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic has brought several changes to the lives of students, including the practice of physical activity. Objective: To investigate the level and patterns of physical activity practice of Physical Education university students during the period of isolation in the Covid-19 pandemic. Methodology: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out. The research was carried out using a questionnaire sent via a Google Forms link, in which sociodemographic questions (such as where and with whom they live, occupation, smoking and drinking habits), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF), which classifies the individual as very active, active, irregularly active or sedentary, and the Questionnaire of Habitual Physical Activity (QAFH), which assesses patterns of physical activity over a long period, were inserted. They were collected by means of a single session to assess the level and patterns of regularity about the practice of physical activity, without the participants being identified or their contact details being viewed by third parties. Results: The sample was one of convenience and consisted of 42 students from the Physical Education course at the State University of Goiás (UEG). The sample included students regularly enrolled in the Bachelor's and Bachelor's degree courses in Physical Education at UEG (Goiânia campus) and aged 18 or over. Questionnaires answered partially or those who refused to sign the Informed Consent Form were excluded. The statistical treatment included: estimation of means, standard deviation and standard error of the mean; absolute and relative frequency of the data. The results showed that 75.2% lived with their families, 31% only studied, 52.4% were alcoholics and only 11.9% were smokers. The IPAQ-SF assessment reported that 42.9% of the students were very active and 31.0% were classified as irregularly active. In the QAFH questionnaire, the majority of respondents were classified as moderately active. The practice of physical exercise was also analyzed and 85.7% of the participants practice physical exercise while 14.3% do not practice exercise, and 83.3% believe that the pandemic scenario has influenced their physical exercise habits. Another relevant behavioral aspect was the increase in alcohol consumption by 25.9%. Conclusion: The Covid-19 pandemic played an important role in changing lifestyle habits and increasing alcohol consumption and levels of physical exercise. Students decreased their physical activity during the pandemic, but their levels of physical activity were considered moderately active and active.