Physical activity and sense of security in schoolchildren during the COVID-19 lockdown period

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to observe the relationship between limitations of the opportunities for engaging in selected forms of physical activity during the COVID-19 lockdown period and the sense of personal security of the study participants. Material: A total of 598 students aged fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen participated in the study. A physical activity questionnaire and the Security Experience Questionnaire were used to determine the relationship between variables. The adopted hypotheses were verified using basic descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey's post hoc test, and the results are presented in tabular form. Results: In the variable of the sense of personal security of the study groups, a moderate level among fifteen and sixteen-year-old students and a moderately low level among seventeen-year-old students were found. During the COVID-19 lockdown period, fifteen-, sixteen-, and seventeen-year-old students felt the most the inability to go to the gym, attend traditional physical education classes, swimming classes, and at the same time did not feel uncomfortable with the lack of school sports club classes. Adolescent perceptions of psychological discomfort, manifested, among other things, by a moderate sense of personal security, were therefore influenced by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which contributed to the closure of schools and facilities designed for physical activity as a result of lockdown. This is because the students lost their natural opportunity to relieve tension and develop physical culture, which is so important in adolescence. Conclusions: Based on the research, it can be concluded that with the limitations caused by the COVID-19 lockdown, it becomes necessary for adolescents to intensify their physical activity at home. In particular, it would be advisable to set up joint training groups on the Internet, which, with the provision of professional coaching, can encourage regular physical exercise and increase motivation for engaging in sports.