Haidar Djemai1,2,3, Rami Hammad4,5, Louise Schoonberg6, Saleh Hammad7, Abdelhafez Alnawayseh8, Rosol Atiyat9, Fatima Al Faqeeh10,11, Esraa Otoom9, Toufik Bouhedja11, Abdallah Alsairafi9, Manar Almasri9, Carine Bret6, Philippe Joly6, Philippe Dedieu6, Fouad Chiha11, Mylène Aubertin-Leheudre4,5, Hazzaa Al-Hazzaa12, Rungchai Chaunchaiyakul13, Philippe Noirez1,2,4,6,9, Ibrahim M Dabayebeh9
1University Paris Cité, INSEP, EA 7329, Institute for Research in bio Medicine and Epidemiology of Sport (IRMES), Paris, France
2University Paris Cité, INSERM UMR-S 1124, Paris, France
3University Salah Boubenider Constantine 3, Laboratory of Biology and Molecular Genetics, New town Ali Mendjeli, Constantine, Algeria
4Université du Québec à Montréal, Département des Sciences de l’Activité Physique, Montréal, Canada
5Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM), Montréal, Canada
6Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, PSMS, Reims, France
7Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Department of Physical and Health Education, Amman, Jordan
8Mu’tah University, Faculty of Sport Science, Mu’tah, Jordan
9University of Jordan, Faculty of Sport Science, Amman, Jordan
10Palestine Technical University–Kadoorie, Department of Physical Education, Tulkarm, Palestine
11University of Abdelhamid Mehri Constantine2, LEAPS, New town Ali Mendjeli, Constantine, Algeria
12Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Lifestyle and Health Research Center, Health Sciences Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
13Mahidol University, College of Sports Science and Technology, Bangkok, Thailand
Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Physical Activity and Lifestyles of Male and Female Athletes Varying in Discipline, Level and Nationality
Sport Mont 2025, 23(2), Ahead of Print | DOI: 10.26773/smj.250617
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reduced physical activity levels in the general population. This study seeks to examine the impact of pandemic-related lockdowns on physical activity among athletes, comparing individuals across different performance levels and countries. A cross-sectional study was employed. Between 5 and 15 April 2020, they were administered the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Short-Form General Health Questionnaire (SF-12) (including SF-12 Physical and Mental Component Summary subscores [PCS and MCS respectively]). Before the lockdown, women had higher energy expenditure (AEE) and physical component scores (PCS) compared to men, while mental component scores MCS were higher for men than for women. During a lockdown, total activity time (TAT) and AEE decreased significantly for all athletes, sitting time increased, and quality of life worsened. TAT, AEE, and PCS became similar between sexes during lockdown, but women had lower MCS at low activity levels, except for high-level female athletes, who showed similar MCS to males. In conclusion, the COVID-19 lockdown negatively impacted athletes’ Total activity time, activity energy expenditure, and quality of life were greater among low-level athletes, particularly females.
Keywords
health, athletes, pandemic, IPAQ, SF-12
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