Insights Gained in the Aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Follow-Up Survey of a Recreational Training Program, Focusing on Sense of Coherence and Sleep Quality

Abstract

The original aim of this study was a follow-up assessment of a recreational program running for six months (September 2019–February 2020) within controlled conditions. Following the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, the survey acquired a new goal: how do the subjects of the follow-up sampling experience this severe stress situation, and in this experience, what role does physical activity and a salutogenetic sense of coherence play. Austrian women (N = 53) took part in the training program, whose physical condition was assessed before the start of the program, then reassessed after three months and after six months; the organizers also had them fill out the sense of coherence questionnaire (SOC) as well as the Regensburger insomnia scale. After the lifting of the lockdown introduced due to the pandemic, participants completed an online survey relating to their changed life conditions, physical activities, sense of coherence and sleep quality. Results: After the first three months of the training, no significant changes were detected. After six months, the participants SOC and sleep quality improved (Friedman test: p = 0.005 and p < 0.001). During the lockdown, sleep quality generally deteriorated (W-rank test: p = 0.001), while SOC did not change. The women in possession of a relatively stronger SOC continued the training (OR = 3.6, CI 95% = 1.2–12.2), and their sleep quality deteriorated to a lesser degree. (OR = 1.7, CI 95% = 1.1–2.8). Conclusion: The data reinforce the interdependency between physical exercise (PE) and SOC; furthermore, the personal training that the authors formulated for middle-aged women proved to be successful in strengthening their sense of coherence, and it also reduced the deterioration in sleep quality due to stress.

Salutogenesis and COVID-19 pandemic impacting nursing education across SEANERN affiliated universities: A multi-national study

“…In line with existing literature ( Szovák et al, 2020 ; Schäfer et al, 2019 ), having a stronger SoC was associated with lesser stress symptoms in nursing students. Most of the faculty members' SoC levels were also associated with lower SASRQ scores, except for Laotian and Vietnamese faculty members who showed statistically insignificant positive correlations between the two variables.…”

“…The SoC helps an individual to mobilize resources that aid them in managing stressors ( Mittelmark and Bauer, 2017 ). A strong SoC is associated with pro-health behaviors, reduced negative impact from stressors and lower post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity ( Szovák et al, 2020 ; Schäfer et al, 2019 ). Individuals with strong SoC can understand and manage their internal and external environments better, helping them cope with stress efficiently ( Szovák et al, 2020 ).…”

“…A strong SoC is associated with pro-health behaviors, reduced negative impact from stressors and lower post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity ( Szovák et al, 2020 ; Schäfer et al, 2019 ). Individuals with strong SoC can understand and manage their internal and external environments better, helping them cope with stress efficiently ( Szovák et al, 2020 ). Studying profound challenges like pandemics through salutogenic lenses can provide opportunities for understanding how individuals cope during crises and suggest methods to improve the health of the overall population ( Mana et al, 2021 ).…”

Suffering and Salutogenesis: A Conceptual Analysis of Lessons for Psychiatry From Existential Positive Psychology (PP2.0) in the Setting of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The authors of the latter paper explicitly recommended interventions aimed at enhancing SOC in vulnerable individuals. The validity of this approach was tested in a study of a recreational intervention in a small sample of women (n = 53), which found that over a period of 6 months, physical activity was associated with an increase in SOC; however, initial SOC was itself associated with a greater likelihood of adhering to the exercise regimen, suggesting a bi-directional relationship (Szovak et al, 2020).…”

Sleep Habits during COVID-19 Confinement: An Exploratory Analysis from Portugal

“…A study of 53 Austrian women shows that physical exercise prescribed by personal training has been shown to be successful in reducing the deterioration of sleep quality due to the stress caused by the pandemic situation [52]. One study investigated changes in physical activity, sleep time and body weight before and during COVID-19 in South Korea and found that participants who slept less than 7 h decreased by 3.6%, while those who slept more than 9 h increased this value.…”