PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH IN TIMES OF PANDEMIC

The restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic have caused different problems on a psychological level. In our study we have analyzed to what extent, during this initial confinement period, the population has coped with the stress and psychological discomfort generated by the situation and in what way this response was related to the variables sex and level of sports practice. Material and Method: we used a descriptive and cross-sectional design; a relational study is developed to analyze the degree of dependence between the variables sex and level of sports practice with stress and psychological discomfort, for this we have used the scale of perceived stress and Kessler's psychological discomfort, the sample was composed of a total of 660 participants: 301 women (45.6%) and 359 men (54.4%). Results: Significant differences were found in psychological discomfort and stress, in the study groups, according to the level of sports practice and gender. Conclusions: we believe that confinement during the pandemic is associated with significantly high levels of psychological discomfort and stress, affecting more among women and among the population of people who do not practice physical activity. It is necessary that physical activity and sport are considered of vital importance in the maintenance of physical and psychological health.