Physical activity and mental health in university students in the city of Bogotá, Colombia, during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: the interaction between low levels of physical activity and mental health problems was accentuated during the COVID-19 pandemic in university students, therefore, it is necessary to measure and analyze the relationship of these factors. to establish a starting point in the approach to intervention strategies. Objective: to analyze the level of physical activity practice in the community of undergraduate students of the University Foundation of Health Sciences (FUCS) and its relationship with the state of mental health during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: study transversal descriptive type. Non-probabilistic sampling of 389 students from the Physiotherapy and Psychology programs. Physical activity levels were assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQSF), and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Measurement Scale (DASS-21) was used for mental health status. The results are presented through measures of central tendency, dispersion and statistical correlations. Results: a total of 389 measurements were carried out, among students of Physiotherapy (64%) and Psychology (36%). The level of physical activity practice was high intensity (9.4%), moderate intensity (54.4%) and low intensity (36.6%). In the mental health results, the level of stress was present in 66.9%, depression in 64% and anxiety in 75% of respondents. The most negative Spearman correlation (-0.106) was obtained between days of moderate physical activity and anxiety. Conclusions: different investigations have reported that the practice of physical activity reduces mental health problems, however, what was found in this investigation suggests that only the practice of intense physical activity (days and minutes per week) and moderate (days per week) they seem to reduce levels of anxiety, stress and depression. The results are not significant, so it is suggested to expand the research to other faculties, to obtain figures that promote the implementation of programs that reduce alterations in mental health using the practice of physical activity as a protective factor.