Jevgenij Razgulin1, Agnė Slapšinskaitė-Dackevičienė2 , Kastytis Šmigelskas1
1Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Public Health, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės g. 18, Kaunas LT-47181, Lithuania.
2Health Research Institute, Faculty of Publich Health, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilžės g. 18, Kaunas LT-47181, Lithuania.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess physical activity and its role in international students’ sociocultural adjustment, well-being, and mental health indicators during the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 175 second-year international students participated in this study. They filled in the self-reported questionnaire. The study revealed that 47% of international students were moderately active and 64% of those students were vigorously active. In total, 62% of the sample reported having symptoms of depression and 37% had symptoms of anxiety on a moderate or severe level. More than half of international students expressed adequate well-being. This study also revealed, that more vigorously and moderately physically active students had a better sociocultural adjustment. Moreover, vigorously active students had better well-being and subjective health. They also had fewer symptoms of depression and fewer psychosomatic symptoms. However, no associations were reported between physical activity and anxiety among international students. Overall, as physical activity plays an important role in international students’ sociocultural adjustment and their mental health different moderate and vigorous activities should be facilitated among the students to promote their well-being.
Keywords: International students, Physical activity, Sociocultural adjustment, Mental Health, Well-being.