Impact of Covid-19 infection control and prevention measures on physical-sports activity among adolescents in a rural population

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse the changes related to the practice of physical-sports activities (P-SA) in adolescents owing to COVID-19 infection control and prevention measures. A total of 259 students (mean age=13.98±1.61 years) from a high school gave information on their physical-sports habits during the first year of the pandemic. The results showed a clear association between P-SA prior to the establishment of the state of alarm with P-SA practised after, and during the new normality. Also, a sporting club's membership was positively related to P-SA. Logistic regression analyses indicated that the duration of official training was the factor that most explained P-SA levels after confinement and during the new normality. In relation to post-confinement P-SA, males were more likely to practise more P-SA than females, but during the new normality, this factor was no longer significant and living with a family member at risk and the practice of individual sports became more important. These findings show that membership of a sporting club and commitment to training mitigated the negative impact of these health measures. Guidelines to ensure the maintenance of P-SA in adolescents should be established if similar situations are repeated in the future.