Effect of coronavirus disease lockdown on the physical and psychological attributes of Nigerian athletes
Abstract
Background/ Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of lockdown measures occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic on the physical and psychological characteristics of Nigerian athletes.
Methods: An online survey involving 578 elite athletes was utilized, using an electronic questionnaire which sought information on respondents’ socio-demographics, sports type, level of psychological distress, injury incidences management, and expectations or otherwise of financial support during the lockdown period. Data obtained were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS version 21 with alpha set at <0.05.
Results: Results showed that the COVID-19 lockdown had a significant negative impact on respondents’ ratings of cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, joint flexibility, speed, agility, coordination level and body weight. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale showed that 44.1% of the respondents were likely to have been psychologically well, while 20.6% and 12.5% were likely to be having mild and moderate disorders respectively. 22.8% of the respondents were likely to be having severe disorder as a result of the lockdown restrictions. Results also showed no association between respondents’ age, gender, marital status, sports type and level of psychological distress. However, there were associations between the presence of injury and lack of access to its
management during the lockdown period, expectation of financial support or palliative from club during lockdown period and the level of psychological distress.
Conclusion: It was concluded that COVID-19 pandemic elicited reduction in physical attributes and varying levels of psychological distress among Nigerian athletes.
Keywords: Coronavirus disease, lockdown restrictions, Nigerian athletes, physical characteristics, psychological distress
Résumé
Contexte / Objectif: Le but de l’étude était d’évaluer l’effet des mesures de verrouillage occasionnées par la pandémie de Covid-19 sur les caractéristiques physiques et psychologiques des athlètes nigérians.
Méthodes: Une enquête en ligne portant sur 578 athlètes d’élite a été utilisée, à l’aide d’un questionnaire électronique qui cherchait des informations sur les caractéristiques sociodémographiques des répondants, le type de sport, le niveau de détresse psychologique, la gestion des incidences de blessures et les attentes ou non de soutien financier pendant la période de verrouillage. Les données obtenues ont été analysées avec des statistiques descriptives et inférentielles avec SPSS version 21 avec alpha fixé à d” 0,05.
Résultats: Les résultats ont montré que le verrouillage du COVID-19 avait un impact négatif significatif sur les évaluations des répondants concernant l’endurance cardiovasculaire, la force musculaire, la flexibilité articulaire, la vitesse, l’agilité, le niveau de coordination et le poids corporel. L’échelle de détresse psychologique de Kessler a montré que 44,1% des répondants étaient susceptibles d’avoir été psychologiquement bien, tandis que 20,6% et 12,5% étaient susceptibles d’avoir des troubles légers et modérés respectivement. 22,8% des répondants étaient
susceptibles de souffrir de troubles graves en raison des restrictions de verrouillage. Les résultats n’ont également montré aucune association entre l’âge, le sexe, l’état matrimonial, le type de sport et le niveau de détresse psychologique des répondants. Cependant, il y avait des associations entre la présence d’une blessure et le manque d’accès à sa gestion pendant la période de verrouillage, l’attente d’un soutien financier ou palliatif du club pendant la période de verrouillage et le niveau de détresse psychologique.
Conclusion: Il a été conclu que la pandémie de COVID-19 a entraîné une réduction des attributs physiques et des niveaux variables de détresse psychologique chez les athlètes nigérians.Mots clés: maladie à coronavirus, restrictions de verrouillage, athlètes nigérians, caractéristiques physiques, détresse psychologique
Correspondence: O.O. Ogundiran, Department of Physiotherapy, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, Nigeria. E-mail: femi_diran@yahoo.co
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