Abstract summary 

Depression is a public mental health problem that can progress to suicidal ideation, literature suggests regular physical activity may ameliorate it. The study assessed the link between physical activity and depression symptoms during the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Academic Staff Union (ASU) strike among undergraduates. Four hundred and eighteen undergraduates were recruited and participated in the study. Participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to measure depression severity. The result on PA showed that about one-third of the participants were inactive, above half were moderately active, while a few achieved high PA levels. Above one-fifth of the participants experienced minimal or no depression while a good percent had mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression. Non-parametric tests between PA total score and depression total score with demographic variables were not significant. Spearman's correlation showed a strong negative relationship between PHQ-9 scores and IPAQ-SF scores. This suggests that a high PA level is associated with lower depression symptoms. The COVID-19 pandemic and the ASU strike experiences resulted in increased depression among undergraduates. The university administration needs to formulate an urgent policy to promote PA among undergraduates and provide treatment for the affected students.

Authors & Co-authors:  Ofili Perpetua Chinyere PC Ede Moses Onyemaechi MO Anyaegbunam Ngozi Joannes NJ Oforka Kingsley Okechukwu KO Okereke Innocent Ebere IE Umeifekwem Joshua Emeka JE Bosa Chukwuebuka Nnagozie CN Ngwoke Saint Oliver Rotachukwu SOR Okoroafor Uzochukwu U Oyibo Melitus Amadi MA Ogueri Emmanuel Obinna EO Ibhafido Akhere A Abbah Oliver Igwebuike OI Nwakamma Jude Chikezie JC Ezeufodiama Stella C SC Okechukwu Emmanuel Chijioke EC Omeye Rita Okechukwu RO Nwaiwu Nnochiri N Anozie Keyna Chinyere KC Ikediashi Olisa Emmanuel OE Ogbochie Andrew Nnabuchi AN Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi EI Okoroafor Judith Chikamma JC Odo Edward Odogbu EO

Study Outcome 

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