Jonas Lüdemann and Jens Kleinert
Within the student population, students who study sport at the university level represent a special cohort struggling with specific academic and developmental challenges…
Abstract
Purpose
Within the student population, students who study sport at the university level represent a special cohort struggling with specific academic and developmental challenges. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that sports students are particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of their mental health. The aim of this study is to examine whether mental health (i.e. depression and well-being) among sports students changed during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the data before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
The current study compared 907 German sports students before the COVID-19 pandemic to 1,124 German sports students during the COVID-19 pandemic (55.7% BA students, 13.3% MA students and 29.4% PE students). Mental health was assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) (risk for depression) and the well-being index (WHO-5). To identify students at risk, a cut-off score of = 3 (PHQ-2) or of = 12 (WHO-5) was used.
Findings
The results show that across all study programs, the risk for depression was significantly higher and well-being was significantly lower during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. Moreover, remarkably more sports students were at high risk for depression (11.1% vs 38.3%) or showed strongly decreased well-being (24.6% vs 57.3%) during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period.
Originality/value
The results are comparable to those of other fields of study that do not involve physical activity. Implications for further research, for sports students’ mental health practice and for mental health professionals are discussed. It remains to be examined to what extent this impairment also has an impact on the further psychological development of the students after the pandemic.
Details
Keywords
Angeli Gawlik, Martin Boss and Jens Kleinert
Although the health hazards of truck drivers are well known, only few studies address the health status of this occupational group. The purpose of this empirical research paper is…
Abstract
Purpose
Although the health hazards of truck drivers are well known, only few studies address the health status of this occupational group. The purpose of this empirical research paper is to evaluate the effects of motivational and volitional coaching on workplace physical activity (WPA) with the provision of a vehicle-integrated fitness device.
Design/methodology/approach
Intervention group 1 and intervention group 2 received motivational coaching to improve behavioral internalization. Intervention group 2 received additional volitional coaching to increase physical activity (PA)-related self-efficacy. The control group received only the vehicle-integrated fitness device to perform WPA, as did both intervention groups. Internalization and PA-related self-efficacy were collected four times. WPA was assessed weekly.
Findings
All 140 participating truck drivers were consistently physically active for an average of 85 min (SD = 85.2 min) during motivational coaching, 76 min (SD = 65.0 min) during volitional coaching and 71.0 min (SD = 63.5 min) during follow-up, with no differences found between groups. Variance analyses for repeated measures revealed no intervention effects on WPA, internalization and self-efficacy, and internalization and self-efficacy did not prove to be mediators of increased WPA.
Originality/value
The primary goal of increasing WPA of all participants was achieved, but the present form of coaching cannot be confirmed as a successful strategy. Nevertheless, the results are valuable and could be an impetus for further research on WPA promotion in truck drivers as the creation of an opportunity with the vehicle-integrated fitness device alone led to an increased WPA.