Abstract
INVESTIGATION OF COVID-19 FEAR ACCORDING TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS OF DESK WORKERS (EXAMPLE FROM ÇANAKKALE ONSEKIZ MART UNIVERSITY)
The aim of this research is “investigation of COVID-19 fear according to physical activity levels of desk workers (Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University example). With this aim, the study included a total of 149 volunteer desk workers, including 68 men and 81 women with mean age 40.82±8.01 years, employed as administrative personnel in Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University. The data collection tools in the research used the researcher form prepared with expert opinions, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form and the COVID-19 Phobia scale. Data obtained in the research were analyzed with SPSS 20.0 statistical analysis program. As data did not display normal distribution, analyses used nonparametric tests. As the data did not have normal distribution, non-parametric tests were used for analyses. Descriptive statistical analyses were used for data analysis, with the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis tests used with the aim of determining differences between groups. According to the findings, desk workers had minimally active physical activity levels, had close to moderate levels of COVID-19 fear and had body mass index above 25 kg/m2. Variables like physical activity level, body mass index and marital status were not effective on perception of COVID-19 fear. According to the gender variable, women had higher COVID-19 fear compared to men and the gender variable was identified to affect perception of COVID-19 fear. Additionally, for the body mass index variable, the physical activity levels were statistically significantly different between groups and obese individuals had lower physical activity levels than individuals with normal weight and overweight individuals. In conclusion, physical activity levels did not affect perception of COVID-19 fear and it is thought that desk workers should increase their physical activity levels.
Keywords
Desk Work, Physical Activity, COVID-19, COVID-19 Fear
