Physical Activity Intervention Program in Nature with University Students Under COVID-19 Mobility Restrictions

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a physical-sports activity program in nature on life satisfaction, emotional intelligence, and anxiety in university students during COVID-19 mobility restrictions. Methods: A controlled trial was conducted involving 40 students from the Faculty of Sport Sciences, randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EG; n = 20) or a control group (CG; n = 20). The EG participated in an intervention program based on outdoor physical sports activities, while the CG did not engage in any additional activities. The intervention was implemented within the context of restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and assessments were conducted before (pre-test) and after (post-test) the program. Results: The analyses revealed statistically significant improvements in the experimental group in life satisfaction, emotional attention, and state anxiety compared to the control group. No significant differences were found in emotional clarity, emotional repair, or trait anxiety. Conclusion: The results suggest that engaging in physical sports activities in nature, even under confinement circumstances, positively affects life satisfaction and certain aspects of emotional intelligence and anxiety in university students.

Keywords

• anxiety
• emotional intelligence
• life satisfaction
• physical activity
• natural environmental
• mountaineering