Changes in Physical Activity Intensity and Mental Health Among Working-Age Adults After Recovering from Covid-19

The aim of this study was to examine changes in various intensities of physical activity - PA (moderate, low – walking, total, and vigorous) and their relationship with mental health parameters (anxiety, depression, and stress) among working-age adults after recovering from COVID-19; The study was conducted between February and May 2022 and included 288 participants aged 20–60 years (M = 47.06; SD = 12.41), of whom 95 were men and 193 were women. PA levels were assessed using the long form of IPAQ, while depression, anxiety, and stress levels were evaluated using the long form of DASS-42 questionnaire. Differences between the initial and final measurements were analyzed using a one-way repeated measures ANOVA, with partial eta squared (η²) reported as a measure of effect size. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05, and data were processed in SPSS (version 23.0); Total PA showed the largest increase over time (Wilks’ Λ = 0.94, F(1, 287) = 16.00, p < 0.001, η² = 0.05), followed by moderate PA (Wilks’ Λ = 0.96, F(1, 287) = 10.45, p = 0.001, η² = 0.03). Low-intensity activity in the form of walking also significantly increased (Wilks’ Λ = 0.97, F(1, 287) = 7.57, p = 0.006, η² = 0.02), whereas vigorous PA did not show a significant change (Wilks’ Λ = 0.99, F(1, 287) = 0.64, p = 0.423, η² = 0.00). Re-garding mental health, anxiety significantly decreased (Wilks’ Λ = 0.98, F(1, 287) = 3.99, p = 0.047, η² = 0.01). Depression (Wilks’ Λ = 0.99, F(1, 287) = 1.24, p = 0.266, η² = 0.00) and stress (Wilks’ Λ = 0.99, F(1, 287) = 0.65, p = 0.418, η² = 0.00) demonstrated downward trends without significant differences; Increases in total and moderate PA, alongside reg-ular walking, were associated with reductions in anxiety and favorable trends in other mental health domains. Although this association between increased PA and reduced anxiety was observed, it was not directly tested statistically in the presented model. These findings underscore the importance of integrating simple and sustainable forms of PA into prevention and rehabilitation programs for working-age adults in the post-COVID period.