Physical fitness and quality of life in Austrian adolescents post-COVID-19: A one-year longitudinal study.
- 1Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
- 2Department of Human Movement Sciences, University of Ostrava, Czech Republic.
Abstract
Aims
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) reflects adolescents' overall well-being across physical, psychological, social, and emotional dimensions. Pre-pandemic studies show positive associations between physical fitness (PF) and HRQoL, but the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced adolescents' physical activity, PF, and mental well-being. Although adolescents are consistently identified as a highly affected group, longitudinal research on the relationship between (the development of) PF and HRQoL during mid-adolescence remains scarce. This study aimed to investigate the prospective relationship between (changes in) PF and HRQoL over 12 months in upper secondary school adolescents following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.Methods
A total of 140 adolescents (54.9% female; mean age 14.3 ± 0.5 years) participated in the present longitudinal study with two data collection time points during (October 2021) and after (October 2022) the pandemic restrictions. The participants completed the KIDSCREEN-10 (KS10) questionnaire and the KIDSCREEN-27 (KS27) questionnaire - comprising physical well-being, psychological well-being, autonomy and parent relations, social support and peers, and school environment - and underwent the standardized German Motor Performance Test (DMT 6-18), including eight tests to assess endurance, strength, speed, flexibility, and coordination.Results
Adolescents' HRQoL did not change significantly across the study period; PF significantly improved in six out of eight DMT test items over time. In multiple regression analyses, improvements in PF test items over the 12-month period were not significantly associated with overall HRQoL (KS10) after the restrictions, whereas HRQoL during the restrictions and male sex emerged as significantly negative associated variables, with male sex being significantly associated with the overall HRQoL index (KS10) but not with any of the five specific HRQoL dimensions (KS27).Conclusion
These findings show that adolescents' HRQoL did not change significantly over the post-pandemic follow-up period, despite notable improvements in PF. These improvements alone may not be sufficient to enhance HRQoL in the aftermath of the pandemic. Instead, adolescents' baseline well-being and demographic factors such as sex appear to play a decisive role.
Related
- The relationships among achievement motivation health related physical fitness and academic procrastination in adolescents from a multitheoretical perspective
- Predicting subsequent-year physical fitness assessment failure in university students using longitudinal data and explainable machine learning
- Effects of Sports App-Based Interventions on Physical Fitness Outcomes among Adolescents and University Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Smartphone addiction, physical activity engagement, and sleep quality in Chinese adolescents: a parallel and serial mediation model
- Effectiveness of a Physical Exercise Prescription Program in Primary Care to Improve Physical Fitness and Quality of Life in Adults Aged 65 Years and Older in a Rural Basic Health Area-Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (PREFIS-AP).
BibTeX
@article{prunster2026physical,
title = {{Physical fitness and quality of life in Austrian adolescents post-COVID-19: A one-year longitudinal study.}},
author = {Vera Prünster and Martin Niedermeier and Armando Cocca and Gerhard Ruedl},
journal = {AIMS public health},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.3934/publichealth.2026048},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909329},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Physical fitness and quality of life in Austrian adolescents post-COVID-19: A one-year longitudinal study.
AU - Vera Prünster
AU - Martin Niedermeier
AU - Armando Cocca
AU - Gerhard Ruedl
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/27
JO - AIMS public health
DO - 10.3934/publichealth.2026048
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42909329
AB - Aims Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) reflects adolescents' overall well-being across physical, psychological, social, and emotional dimensions. Pre-pandemic studies show positive associations between physical fitness (PF) and HRQoL, but the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced adolescents' physical activity, PF, and mental well-being. Although adolescents are consistently identified as a highly affected group, longitudinal research on the relationship between (the development of) PF and HRQoL during mid-adolescence remains scarce. This study aimed to investigate the prospective relationship between (changes in) PF and HRQoL over 12 months in upper secondary school adolescents following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.Methods A total of 140 adolescents (54.9% female; mean age 14.3 ± 0.5 years) participated in the present longitudinal study with two data collection time points during (October 2021) and after (October 2022) the pandemic restrictions. The participants completed the KIDSCREEN-10 (KS10) questionnaire and the KIDSCREEN-27 (KS27) questionnaire - comprising physical well-being, psychological well-being, autonomy and parent relations, social support and peers, and school environment - and underwent the standardized German Motor Performance Test (DMT 6-18), including eight tests to assess endurance, strength, speed, flexibility, and coordination.Results Adolescents' HRQoL did not change significantly across the study period; PF significantly improved in six out of eight DMT test items over time. In multiple regression analyses, improvements in PF test items over the 12-month period were not significantly associated with overall HRQoL (KS10) after the restrictions, whereas HRQoL during the restrictions and male sex emerged as significantly negative associated variables, with male sex being significantly associated with the overall HRQoL index (KS10) but not with any of the five specific HRQoL dimensions (KS27).Conclusion These findings show that adolescents' HRQoL did not change significantly over the post-pandemic follow-up period, despite notable improvements in PF. These improvements alone may not be sufficient to enhance HRQoL in the aftermath of the pandemic. Instead, adolescents' baseline well-being and demographic factors such as sex appear to play a decisive role.
SN - 2327-8994
ER -