Insights Gained in the Aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Follow-Up Survey of a Recreational Training Program, Focusing on Sense of Coherence and Sleep Quality

Etelka Szovák, Károly Varga, Imre Zoltán Pelyva, Rita Soós, Sára Jeges, Zsuzsanna Kívés and Ákos Levente Tóth
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Etelka Szovák: Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, H-7621 Pécs, Hungary
Károly Varga: Sociological Institute, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, H-2087 Piliscsaba, Hungary
Imre Zoltán Pelyva: Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, H-7621 Pécs, Hungary
Rita Soós: Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, H-7621 Pécs, Hungary
Sára Jeges: Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, H-7621 Pécs, Hungary
Zsuzsanna Kívés: Institute for Health Insurance, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, H-7621 Pécs, Hungary
Ákos Levente Tóth: Institute of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, Faculty of Science, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-17

Abstract: The original aim of this study was a follow-up assessment of a recreational program running for six months (September 2019–February 2020) within controlled conditions. Following the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, the survey acquired a new goal: how do the subjects of the follow-up sampling experience this severe stress situation, and in this experience, what role does physical activity and a salutogenetic sense of coherence play. Austrian women ( N = 53) took part in the training program, whose physical condition was assessed before the start of the program, then reassessed after three months and after six months; the organizers also had them fill out the sense of coherence questionnaire (SOC) as well as the Regensburger insomnia scale. After the lifting of the lockdown introduced due to the pandemic, participants completed an online survey relating to their changed life conditions, physical activities, sense of coherence and sleep quality. Results: After the first three months of the training, no significant changes were detected. After six months, the participants SOC and sleep quality improved (Friedman test: p = 0.005 and p < 0.001). During the lockdown, sleep quality generally deteriorated (W-rank test: p = 0.001), while SOC did not change. The women in possession of a relatively stronger SOC continued the training (OR = 3.6, CI 95% = 1.2–12.2), and their sleep quality deteriorated to a lesser degree. (OR = 1.7, CI 95% = 1.1–2.8). Conclusion: The data reinforce the interdependency between physical exercise (PE) and SOC; furthermore, the personal training that the authors formulated for middle-aged women proved to be successful in strengthening their sense of coherence, and it also reduced the deterioration in sleep quality due to stress.

Keywords: physical activity; COVID-19 pandemic; sense of coherence; sleep quality; follow-up research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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