Search Results (1,360)

The rapid expansion of esports within higher education, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has raised important questions regarding their impact on students’ physical and psychological development. While traditional sports are well known for their benefits on motor and physical skills, esports primarily engage cognitive processes through sustained interaction with digital environments. This study compares motor skills and cognitive performance among higher education male students participating in esports and traditional sports in a post-pandemic context. The present study employs a quantitative, comparative, cross-sectional design to examine differences in motor skills (using standardized physical tests) and cognitive performance (focused attention, short-term memory, and information processing speed) between higher education male students engaged in esports and those participating in traditional sports. Male students engaged in traditional sports demonstrated superior motor outcomes, particularly in muscle strength and postural control. Cognitive performance was comparable between groups, with a slight advantage for traditional sports participants in focused attention and processing speed. Although esports may support certain aspects of cognitive performance to a degree comparable with traditional sports, they do not provide equivalent benefits in terms of motor and postural development. These results highlight the importance of maintaining physical activity within university settings and suggest that esports should complement rather than replace traditional sports in higher education programs. Full article

Background: Among many deleterious effects on the well-being of children and youth, the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a surge in youth mental health distress. This, coupled with pre-existing prolonged wait times for mental health care, highlighted the need for accessible community-based mental health supports. The Healthy Living Project (HELP) is a virtual lifestyle change support program aimed at promoting positive lifestyle changes and improved mental well-being among youth with mental distress. A pilot feasibility study explored youth engagement with HELP e-resources, and preliminary mental health and lifestyle measures over a 3-month period. Methods: Youth were enrolled in a 3-month pilot of the HELP e-resource. Feasibility metrics (recruitment, retention, and platform engagement) were documented, while exploratory self-reported data on emotional and behavioral difficulties, youth quality of life, sedentary behavior (screen time), sleep hygiene, and physical activity were assessed at baseline and 3 months. Results: Twenty-three youth (mean age 15.7 years, SD 1.7) completed baseline assessments and started the intervention, with ten participants retained by the end of the study. Compared with non-completers (n = 13), study completers (n = 10) tended to report higher quality of life and healthier habits (lower screen time, improved sleep hygiene, and higher activity). Ongoing access to HELP over 3 months was associated with suggestive trends toward improvement in emotional and behavioral difficulties and sleep hygiene. Engaged participants who received screen time education tended to report lower screen times as compared to unengaged counterparts. Conclusions: This study provides early insights into the implementation and acceptability of HELP e-resources among youth experiencing mental distress, with suggestive trends toward potential benefit. Low recruitment and high attrition preclude definitive conclusions, and the findings should be interpreted as exploratory. Lessons from this pilot will inform the design of a subsequent trial to more rigorously evaluate feasibility and the potential impact of HELP on youth with mental distress. Full article

Objectives: This pilot study examined telerehabilitation, which has emerged as a crucial modality in light of recent global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined the effectiveness of a mobile health telerehabilitation intervention developed for older adults with frailty. Methods: Six participants received a telerehabilitation intervention (Rehab Studio) that included exercise training videos. The participants were aged ≥65 years, had no history of dementia or psychiatric disorders, and had mild-to-moderate care needs. For 1 month, the participants received 1 h live online rehabilitation sessions with real-time communication with rehabilitation specialists (physical therapists and occupational therapists: PTs/OTs). The quality of life (QoL) (EuroQol 5 dimensions 5-level [EQ-5D-5L] questionnaire) and self-rated health scores were recorded before and after the intervention, and the data were analyzed using paired t-tests to determine whether the service was effective. Results: Significant differences were found in the total EQ-5D-5L and self-rated health scores (p < 0.05). The mean EQ-5D-5L score increased from 0.63 ± 0.13 before the intervention to 0.77 ± 0.14 after the intervention (p = 0.010), while the mean self-rated health score increased from 66.0 ± 18.0 to 83.3 ± 10.3, respectively (p = 0.019). Conclusions: This study revealed that the mobile health telerehabilitation intervention is safe and can improve QoL for older adults with frailty. However, the effectiveness of the intervention needs to be further investigated in patients with poor performance in daily living activities. Telerehabilitation could help to reduce the burden of nursing care in aging societies with declining birthrates. However, given the extremely small sample size (N = 6), these p-values should be interpreted with considerable caution. Statistical significance in such a small sample does not provide strong evidence for population-level effects, and our findings should be regarded as hypothesis-generating rather than confirmatory. Full article

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on physical activity among various populations. Due to a lack of country-representative studies on the prevailing trends in leisure-time physical activity since the COVID-19 pandemic, the aim of this study was to assess the temporal, social, and demographic inequalities in the prevalence of engagement in exercise and sports among working-age citizens of Lithuania from 2021 to 2024. Materials and Methods: This study included four samples of working-age citizens (1600 per year, 6400 in total). Four surveys were conducted, and the distribution of respondents among the groups was compared. Results: In general, the prevalence of engagement in exercise and sports did not change over a four-year period (48.8%, p = 0.256). The prevalence of regular exercise and sports increased, while engagement in irregular exercise and sports decreased (p = 0.014). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that younger age, male sex, being single, having no children under 18 years of age, selecting foods for health strengthening, positive self-assessment of nutrition and health status, use of dietary supplements, attention to purchasing healthy products, and university education attainment were associated with engagement in exercise and sports (regular or irregular) (p < 0.05). Analysis focused specifically on regular exercise and sports revealed associations with a longer time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, younger age, urban residence, selection of foods for health strengthening, positive assessment of nutrition and health status, and university education attainment (p < 0.05), while no significant associations were observed with sex, marital status, presence of children under 18 years of age, use of dietary supplements, or attention to purchasing healthy products (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The overall prevalence of physical activity engagement among working-aged Lithuanian citizens did not change from 2021 to 2024, engagement in regular and irregular exercise and sports has changed. Engagement in regular and irregular exercise and sports is associated with different social profiles. Full article

COVID-19 has raised significant concern regarding its neurological impact, particularly during the early pandemic waves when severe systemic inflammation and neuroimmune dysregulation were more common. Although SARS-CoV-2 has been extensively studied, the precise mechanisms underlying its neurological effects remain incompletely understood, and much of the available evidence is derived from early variants with higher pathogenicity. Current research indicates that neuroinflammatory processes—driven primarily by systemic cytokine elevation, microglial activation, and blood–brain barrier dysfunction—contribute to a wide range of neurological symptoms. Severe complications such as encephalopathy, stroke, and cognitive impairment were predominantly reported in critically ill patients infected with the Wuhan, Alpha, or Delta variants, while such manifestations are considerably less frequent in the Omicron era. Most proposed mechanisms, including ACE2-mediated viral entry into the central nervous system, are supported mainly by experimental or preclinical studies rather than definitive human evidence. Biomarkers such as IL-6 and TNF-α, along with neuroimaging modalities including MRI and PET, offer useful but indirect indicators of neuroinflammation. Therapeutic approaches continue to focus on controlling systemic inflammation through immunomodulatory agents, complemented by targeted non-pharmacological strategies—such as physical rehabilitation, cognitive support, and psychological interventions—for the minority of patients with persistent neurological deficits. Overall, current evidence supports a variant-dependent neuroinflammatory profile and underscores the need for longitudinal, mechanism-focused studies to better characterize long-term neurological outcomes and refine therapeutic strategies. Full article

Urban and population densification have resulted in deteriorating living conditions for populations and the loss of UGSs. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities of our societies, but it has also demonstrated the importance of UGSs as intrinsic elements for maintaining the quality of life of the population and making urban spaces sustainable. Due to its considerable area of UGS, the district of Benfica in Lisbon, Portugal, is the object of study. The study focuses on understanding how the proximity of UGS influences the practice of leisure activities for different publics, and how they are reflected in the populations’ lives, exploring the context during the COVID-19 pandemic. It develops a methodology with a mixed-methods approach: (1) literature review, policies, and urban planning; (2) observation methods, mapping and spatial analysis of UGS types; and (3) surveys. The empirical results indicate the importance of proximity to improve the frequency, namely for the elderly and children. The results also demonstrate that the quality (infrastructure and equipment) of UGS, despite having less walking proximity, is an important element to attract people to use the UGS. A general conclusion is that the proximity and accessibility (walking or public transport) are interlinked in both profiles of UGS, demonstrating a relationship between the place of residence, easy access and frequency of UGS in the practice of activities and the self-assessed physical and mental health benefits. Full article

Background: The (COVID-19) pandemic profoundly disrupted daily routines and physical activity (PA), especially among university students, due to restrictions and limited access to sports facilities. As this group is particularly vulnerable to sedentary lifestyles and mental health issues, understanding their PA patterns is crucial. This study explores overall and domain-specific PA levels and the influence of sociodemographic factors, offering insights for promoting sustainable PA strategies in higher education during and beyond health crises. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among University of Foggia students during the pandemic. The participants completed the validated Italian IPAQ-Long to assess PA across various domains. Associations with demographics and perceived barriers were analyzed via t tests, ANOVA, and nonparametric tests. Results: A total of 301 students completed the survey. Despite barriers such as limited living space, low income, and sports facility closures, 66% of the participants reported high PA levels, mainly through work-related and leisure activities. This remains insufficient. PA varied significantly by gender, income, residence, and employment status: males reported higher leisure PA, whereas females engaged more in active transport and domestic activities. Rural residents and those with moderate incomes demonstrated higher overall PA, whereas employed students presented lower activity levels. These findings underscore the complex socioeconomic and environmental factors shaping PA behavior during an unprecedented global health crisis. Conclusions: The findings reveal that students’ resilience in maintaining PA is a coping mechanism despite socioeconomic and environmental barriers. Tailored, accessible PA initiatives integrated into university curricula can enhance student well-being, academic performance, and long-term health during and after public health emergencies. Universities should adopt accessible, equity-oriented PA initiatives to promote physical and mental health and enhance public-health preparedness during future emergencies. Full article

Older individuals primarily belong to the group with an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Social distancing and other strategies to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic may negatively impact the psychophysical parameters of seniors. Objective: The main aim of this study is to analyze the changes in psychophysical parameters among seniors in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic over a one-year observation. Materials and methods: The observation involved 54 respondents aged 60 and above. The study was conducted three times from March 2020 to April 2021. The selected research method was a diagnostic survey based on a questionnaire. Results: The level of general physical activity in the study groups during the pandemic was determined to be moderate with an upward trend. A downward trend in self-assessment of quality of life was observed, particularly in the area of mental health, along with an increase in symptoms of anxiety, aggression, and insomnia. Conclusions: The pandemic period did not significantly affect the level of physical activity among the surveyed seniors, but an intensification of mental symptoms was noticeable. Full article

Social participation is vital for older adults’ well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted daily activities, but many adapted using SOC (Selection, Optimization, and Compensation) strategies. This study examines how older adults in Hong Kong navigated adversity through strategic decision-making. Twenty-five participants underwent in-depth interviews, with thematic analysis identifying key SOC-related themes: loss-based selection (reducing physical interactions, shifting engagement modes, pursuing solo activities), elective selection (volunteering, exercise, online learning), optimization (adjusting participation methods and timing, taking preventive measures), and compensation (modifying or substituting activities, supporting physical functions). Despite restrictions, older adults actively sought ways to remain socially engaged. Our findings highlight the role of SOC strategies in sustaining participation and enable us to propose a framework for adaptive changes to enhance future well-being. This research deepens discussions on social participation, offering practical insights for fostering resilience among older adults in challenging conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Nursing professionals were among the most affected groups during the COVID-19 pandemic, exposed to simultaneous physical demands and emotional strain. This study examined the interplay between work engagement, compassion fatigue, and musculoskeletal symptoms among frontline nurses in a Brazilian public hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study (n = 77) was conducted between February and April 2022 using validated instruments (Work Stress Scale, ProQoL-BR, Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, and UWES-9). Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed (p ≤ 0.05). Results: Most participants did not report occupational stress (84.4%). No profiles of compassion fatigue were identified, although notable rates of burnout (26.0%) and secondary traumatic stress (23.4%) were observed. Engagement scores were very high in vigor and dedication. Musculoskeletal symptoms were prevalent, especially in the lumbar region (chronic: 60.0%). Female sex, statutory employment, and lack of physical activity were associated with a higher prevalence of symptoms and sick leave. Work engagement (vigor and overall score) showed negative correlations with absenteeism. Conclusions: The coexistence of high engagement and emotional vulnerability, in the absence of compassion fatigue, suggests that higher levels of engagement may be associated with lower occupational stress. These findings highlight the importance of integrated strategies, including ergonomic interventions, health promotion, and organizational support, to preserve the physical and mental health of frontline nursing professionals. This study provides new evidence of engagement as a potential protective factor that may mitigate physical and emotional burden among nurses in resource-limited settings. Full article

Background/Objectives: Depression has increased substantially in Korea following the COVID-19 pandemic, with prevalence reaching 7.3% in 2023, the highest level in a decade, raising urgent concerns about widening mental health disparities. Although physical activity (PA) is associated with reduced depressive symptoms, nationally representative post-pandemic evidence from Korean adults remains limited. This study descriptively examined patterns of PA participation and depressive symptoms across key sociodemographic groups using 2023 Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS) data. Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from 228,249 adults aged ≥19 years in the 2023 KCHS. Depressive symptoms were measured using nine PHQ-9 items (1–4 on Likert scale). PA was assessed as the number of days per week (0–7) of moderate (MPA) and vigorous (VPA) physical activity according to KCHS operational definitions. All analyses incorporated complex survey features (strata, clusters, weights). Group differences were examined using design-corrected t-tests and ANOVA. Results: Women, adults aged 60 years or older, bereaved individuals, and those with lower educational attainment reported higher depressive symptom levels (p < 0.001). PA participation was higher among men, younger adults, married individuals, and those with higher education. Depressive symptom scores decreased with increasing PA frequency, with the lowest levels observed among adults active 5–7 days per week. Although mean differences were modest (0.02–0.12 points on the four-point scale; η² < 0.06), these steady population-level gradients provide meaningful baseline information for understanding post-pandemic mental health patterns in Korea. Conclusions: Although individual-level differences were small (η² < 0.06), the population-level gradients are important for monitoring mental health disparities in post-pandemic Korea. Women, older adults, bereaved individuals, and lower-education groups represent key high-burden populations. Future studies should employ longitudinal designs, objective PA measures, and confounder-adjusted models to clarify mechanisms and directionality, and evaluate the effectiveness of community-based PA interventions. Full article

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially altered lifestyle behaviors, potentially affecting cardiovascular health. This study examined changes in lifestyle behaviors—specifically physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption—and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors before and after the pandemic using nationally representative data from Korea. Methods: Data were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2016 to 2023. Weighted analyses were conducted to ensure national representativeness. Descriptive and inferential statistics (t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation analyses) were used to compare health behaviors and CVD risk factors between pre-pandemic (2016–2019) and post-pandemic (2020–2023) periods. Results: Adherence to aerobic physical activity declined from 45.5% before the pandemic to 42.1% after the pandemic, and resistance exercise participation also decreased (p < 0.05). Average sedentary time increased from 8.1 ± 3.5 to 8.7 ± 3.4 h/day. Body mass index (BMI) increased from 23.9 ± 3.7 to 24.1 ± 3.5 kg/m², and triglyceride levels similarly increased (p < 0.05). In contrast, smoking prevalence decreased from 17.2% to 16.5%, and the average number of cigarettes smoked per day declined from 13 to 11–12. Alcohol intake per occasion also decreased significantly after the pandemic (p < 0.05). However, lipid indicators such as total cholesterol and LDL-C tended to be higher in the post-pandemic period, indicating unfavorable changes rather than improvement. Correlation analyses further showed that heavy drinking was associated with higher BMI, glucose, and triglyceride levels, whereas moderate drinking showed more favorable metabolic profiles. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic exerted mixed effects on lifestyle behaviors and cardiovascular risk factors among Korean adults. While reductions in physical activity and increases in sedentary time may elevate long-term health risks, concurrent decreases in smoking and alcohol intake could have mitigated some negative outcomes. Nevertheless, adverse changes in lipid profiles—including increases in LDL-C, total cholesterol, and triglycerides—suggest that metabolic health worsened overall after the pandemic. These findings underscore the urgent need for tailored public health strategies to promote balanced lifestyle behaviors and mitigate cardiovascular risks in the post-pandemic era. Full article

Background/Objectives: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a highly prevalent gastrointestinal disorder affecting almost 10% of the general population, characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. Its pathophysiology is incompletely understood, but it is established that symptoms result from an interplay between several environmental- and patient-related factors. This study aimed to analyze the influence of a widespread shift in lifestyle habits and multidimensional stress on IBS manifestations. Methods: An online survey was administered during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 to three groups of people representative of the general population. The survey contained questions regarding socio-demographic data, dietary habits, alcohol, smoking, physical activity, sleeping, working activities, stress level, and the characteristics of gastrointestinal symptoms related to both the pre-pandemic period and the lockdown period. The definition of IBS was based on the Rome IV criteria. Multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the association between environmental variables and the occurrence/resolution of IBS. Results: A total of 2735 participants were enrolled. Among them, 122 patients (46.2%) reported symptoms’ improvement during the observation period, while 118 previously healthy subjects (4.8%) developed IBS symptoms. Reduced general stress (OR = 2.2, 95%CI 1.1–4.6, p = 0.029), increased fiber intake (OR = 2.8, 95%CI 1.6–5.0, p < 0.001), and increased hours of sleep (OR = 2.0, 95%CI 1.1–3.8, p = 0.031) were associated with a high probability of IBS resolution, while increased anxiolytic pill intake (OR = 0.14, 95%CI 0.04–0.46, p = 0.001) showed a low likelihood of IBS resolution. Reduced physical activity (OR = 2.0, 95%CI 1.3–3.2, p = 0.002), increased anti-inflammatory effects (OR = 2.4, 95%CI 1.4–4.1, p = 0.002), anxiolytic pill intake (OR = 3.5, 95%CI 2.1–5.9, p < 0.001), and increased work-related stress (OR = 1.8, 95%CI 1.2–2.8, p = 0.009) were risk factors for IBS symptoms’ occurrence. Reduced alcohol consumption was a protective factor (OR = 0.5, 95%CI 0.3–0.8, p = 0.006). The resolution of IBS did not affect upper gastrointestinal functional symptoms (OR = 0.2, 95%CI 0.1–0.3, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The widespread lifestyle change forced by the pandemic created a protective “Cocoon Effect”, resulting in a beneficial effect in almost half of patients with IBS. Our findings provide large-scale evidence that environmental factors play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of IBS. Specifically, stress levels, fiber intake, sleep patterns, and alcohol consumption are key modifiable drivers of symptom occurrence and resolution. Full article

Open spaces in housing estates are crucial for residents’ physical and mental well-being, especially when access to other public spaces is restricted (e.g., during a pandemic). While existing studies focus on public spaces, less is known about how residential landscapes, particularly in gated estates, influence outdoor activities. This study investigates the spatial logic behind the distribution of standing, sitting and social interaction within six pairs of gated and non-gated housing estates in Wuhan. Using space syntax analysis and zero-inflated negative binomial regression, we explore how the spatial configuration influences the incidence of outdoor activities in gated and non-gated estates. The findings suggest that spatial attributes not only significantly explain where activities occurred but also where they did not. More importantly, we found distinct differences between the two types: non-gated estates were more responsive to design, with more spatial factors significantly predicting activities simultaneously, whereas in gated compounds, only a few factors had a significant impact. Critical factors of outdoor activities include seating provision, convex area, perimeter enclosure, and spatial accessibility. These findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of spatial dynamics in residential environments and provide practical insights for urban design and residential planning. Full article

Background: University students often display unhealthy eating habits shaped by economic, cultural, and psychosocial factors. These behaviors increase risks of chronic and mental disorders. The COVID-19 pandemic further changed their diet and physical activity (PA) habits, highlighting the need to identify determinants of diet quality (DQ). Objective: The objective of this study is to identify risk profiles of poor DQ among university students from Chile, Mexico, Spain, and Italy through multivariate segmentation analysis. Methods: A cross-sectional predictive study was conducted among 686 university students (60.8% women; mean age = 22.4 ± 5.1 years) using an online questionnaire on sociodemographic, academic, health, and lifestyle factors, including PA (IPAQ-SF^®) and DQ (HEI). Analyses included descriptive, inferential, and decision tree (CHAID and CART) models. Results: Significant differences in HEI scores (p < 0.001) were observed by country, field of study, academic year, and PA level. Chilean and Mexican students had the lowest DQ. Both models achieved high overall accuracy (≈91%), but balanced accuracy was around 50%, reflecting limited discrimination of healthy diet profiles and underscoring their exploratory value for identifying at-risk subgroups rather than precise prediction. CART identified country of residence and socioeconomic status as the primary determinants of poor diet quality (DQ), while CHAID highlighted field of study and socioeconomic status, with PA and BMI contributing at secondary levels. Conclusions: The results emphasize adapting public health strategies to local contexts—promoting Mediterranean-style diets in European universities and improving access to affordable healthy foods in Latin American campuses, complemented by campus initiatives integrating nutrition education, physical activity, and psychosocial support. Full article