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(1) Background: The relationship between physical activity (PA) and mental health remains a topic of significant interest, particularly in populations recovering from COVID-19. This study aimed to examine the differences in PA levels and mental health parameters (anxiety, depression, and stress) across sex and age groups following COVID-19 recovery; (2) Methods: The sample of participants (n = 288) was selected using a random sampling method and consisted of participants of different ages and both sexes. Participants’ self-reported PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), while the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS) was used to measure negative emotional states. The influence of COVID-19 recovery on PA and mental health (depression, anxiety, stress) was analyzed using MANOVA and follow-up univariate tests by age and sex. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05, with SPSS (v23.0) used for data analysis; (3) Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between the initial and final measurements in PA levels (Wilk’s Lambda = 0.95; p = 0.000) and mental health (Wilk’s Lambda = 0.96; p = 0.000) with older individuals—particularly women—demonstrating improved PA levels and better mental health outcomes. In contrast, younger women exhibited a decline in both domains, with increased anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms. While younger men showed increased PA, their mental health parameters were slightly elevated, though still within normal ranges; (4) Conclusions: Our findings suggest that older individuals were better adapted to post-COVID challenges due to maturity and life experience, while younger populations may require additional support. The study underscored the complexity of the PA–mental health relationship and highlighted the need for further research, particularly among younger individuals recovering from COVID-19.
Details
Exercise;
Pathogens;
Mental health;
Ventilators;
Anxiety;
Physical activity;
Mental depression;
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2;
Mental disorders;
Questionnaires;
Quarantine;
Age;
Recovery;
Statistical significance;
Women;
COVID-19;
Ethics;
Statistical analysis;
Random sampling;
Sexes;
Longitudinal studies;
Consent;
Sex differences;
Data analysis;
Stress;
Sampling methods;
Populations;
Statistical sampling;
Pandemics;
Medical research;
Hospitals;
Parameters
; Bubanj Saša 1
; Petković Emilija 1
; Bjelica Bojan 2
; Aksović Nikola 3 ; Lazar, Toskić 4
; Sufaru Constantin 5
; Gabriel-Stănică, Lupu 5
; Daniel-Lucian, Dobreci 5 ; Dobrescu Tatiana 5
; Mihai-Adrian, Sava 5
1 Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš, 18000 Niš, Serbia; [email protected] (M.S.); [email protected] (S.P.); [email protected] (E.P.)
2 Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, University of East Sarajevo, 71126 Lukavica, Bosnia and Herzegovina; [email protected]
3 Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Priština-Kosovska Mitrovica, 38218 Leposavić, Serbia; [email protected] (N.A.); [email protected] (L.T.)
4 Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Priština-Kosovska Mitrovica, 38218 Leposavić, Serbia; [email protected] (N.A.); [email protected] (L.T.), Faculty of Sport, University “Union–Nikola Tesla”, 11070 Belgrade, Serbia
5 Faculty of Movement, Sports and Health Sciences, “Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacău, 600115 Bacău, Romania; [email protected] (C.S.); [email protected] (G.-S.L.); [email protected] (D.-L.D.); [email protected] (M.-A.S.)