COVID-19 restrictions led to lower physical activity and to impaired
mental health in school children in Germany: results from the BEAP
Survey
Abstract
The aim of this survey was to investigate the COVID-19 associated
restrictions on physical activity (PA) and mental health in youth. A
self-assembled questionnaire, including questions on sociodemographic
indicators, PA, and mental health, was completed by 188 students (45.7%
female, age: 13.97 ± 2.49 years). Data were analysed using Chi-square,
and binary logistic regression analysis was used to get a more detailed
analysis of influencing factors on mental health, nutrition, and
physical activity. For more than one third (36.5 %) of the subjects,
mental health deteriorated as a result of the pandemic and the
restrictions imposed in connection with it. Worries about the illness of
one’s own social contacts (59.0 %), bans on activities (33.0 %) and
worries about school or work (33.0 %) were perceived as very stressful.
The percentage of children and adolescents meeting WHO activity
recommendations decreased from 29.8% before the pandemic to 24.5%
during the pandemic. Analogously, the percentage of non-compliance
increases from 68.6% before to 73.4% during the pandemic. In each
case, 23.9% reported being more or less physically active during the
week than before the pandemic. The results emphasize the importance of
after-pandemic health promotion strategies and holistic preventive
approaches in the school setting.