Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Effect on University Students’ Fitness Level

Rela Valentina Ciomag, Cristiana Lucretia Pop, Ionela Cristina Nae and Cristina Filip
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Rela Valentina Ciomag: Department of Physical Education and Sports, Bucharest University of Economic Studies
Cristiana Lucretia Pop: Department of Physical Education and Sports, Bucharest University of Economic Studies
Ionela Cristina Nae: Department of Physical Education and Sports, Bucharest University of Economic Studies
Cristina Filip: Department of Physical Education and Sports, Bucharest University of Economic Studies

Revista romaneasca pentru educatie multidimensionala - Journal for Multidimensional Education, 2024, vol. 16, issue 3, 193-205

Abstract: Background and Study Purpose: Through the present paper, we aimed to determine to what extent physical capacity was affected by the restrictions during the pandemic. This confirmatory study hypothesises that university students’ fitness level and effort capacity decreased after the pandemic compared to the results obtained before sanitary restrictions. Material and Methods: Fifty female students at the economic faculties, part of two groups of 25 each, in the age range between 19 and 21, passed six physical tests. The applied physical tests targeted strength (sit-ups and squads in 30 s), power (standing long jump), flexibility (sit and reach), coordination (Matorin test), and cardio-respiratory fitness level (Ruffier test). Results: All test results, except one, demonstrate a statistically significant difference, confirming the hypothesis that the two samples differ in strength, power, flexibility, coordination, and cardio-respiratory fitness. By calculating Cohen d effect size, the standardized mean difference of the pandemic effect demonstrates how substantially different are the two samples. Conclusions: This study compares objective results of standardised fitness tests in two successive samples of young women that can contribute to a better understanding of the long-term impact of the pandemic breakdown on the fitness level. The physical abilities decrease between 10 and 28 per cent, with the most worrying level recorded at flexibility and abdominal strength tests. Remedial measures are needed to reverse the physical potential decrease of young adults after the sanitary crisis. A diminished physical potential of the future educated workforce would have lasting effects on their physical and mental health with higher healthcare expenditure and economic consequences due to a resilience and productivity

Keywords: physical abilities; effort capacity; fitness tests; pandemic effects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:lum:rev1rl:v:16:y:2024:i:3:p:193-205

DOI: 10.18662/rrem/16.3/890

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