Page 364 - Drobnič Janez, Pelc Stanko, Kukanja Gabrijelčič Mojca, Česnik Katarina, Cotič Nastja, Volmut Tadeja. Ur. 2023. Vzgoja in izobraževanje v času covida-19. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem
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an Šekeljić, Dragan Radovanović, and Branka Arsović
death (Witoro 2020). The disease itself is a complex disorder which can dam-
age the lungs, the cardiovascular system, cause muscle weakness and lead
to other disorders. Immobilization due to the disease and physical inactiv-
ity due to long-term isolation can also affect the motor status of those who
have been infected (Woods et al. 2020). Long-term inactivity can cause loss of
aerobic endurance (VO2max) of up to 7, a decrease in musculoskeletal and
cognitive abilities, an increase in peripheral insulin resistance, and changes
in the lipolysis of fat tissue and the function of mitochondria (Hamilton 2018;
Bowden Davies et al. 2019). The lack of muscle contractions is the main cause
of muscle atrophy, along with a loss of muscle mass of up to 4 in 14 days
among younger individuals (Bowden Davies et al. 2019). Long-term inactivity
not only reduces the size of the muscle fibres, but also affects the quality and
function of the muscles (Arc-Chagnaud et al. 2020).
In addition to the aforementioned effects, pandemic diseases can also
have significant psychological effects. An important factor in their emer-
gence is the isolation people go through, a decrease in social activity, and
separation from one’s family (Brooks et al. 2020). The period of isolation
causes a decrease in social and physical contact, which might lead to mood
swings, a decrease in the motivation to study, and cause mental health issues
such as anxiety, stress, and depression (Brooks et al. 2020; Wong et al. 2005),
anhedonia, a lack of energy, and insomnia (World Health Organization 2017).
The World Health Organization (World Health Organization 2004, 12) de-
fines mental health as a state of well-being and effective functioning in which
an individual realizes their own abilities, is resilient to the stresses of life,
and is able to make a positive contribution to their community. Research
has shown that women are a more vulnerable group since the symptoms of
depression are twice as high among women than among men (Salk, Hyde,
and Abramson 2017). It is believed that this is the effect of the structure of
a society dominated by men, but that the causes can be genetic, ecologi-
cal, hormonal, and neurobiological in nature (Jalnapurkar, Allen, and Pigott
2018). Post-traumatic stress which emerges after physical and mental trauma
causes an intense sense of fear and helplessness (Lee et al. 2018). Fear and
helplessness during a pandemic which abounds in various unfavourable sit-
uations, combined with the aforementioned predispositions, could cause
more mental health problems among women, including a high level of de-
pression, anxiety, and symptoms of stress (Hawryluck et al. 2004; Lee et al.
2018). A study in which an online survey was used on three different occa-
sions to interview almost 25,000 student athletes of both genders and all
races during the COVID-19 pandemic indicated that there had been a de-
364
death (Witoro 2020). The disease itself is a complex disorder which can dam-
age the lungs, the cardiovascular system, cause muscle weakness and lead
to other disorders. Immobilization due to the disease and physical inactiv-
ity due to long-term isolation can also affect the motor status of those who
have been infected (Woods et al. 2020). Long-term inactivity can cause loss of
aerobic endurance (VO2max) of up to 7, a decrease in musculoskeletal and
cognitive abilities, an increase in peripheral insulin resistance, and changes
in the lipolysis of fat tissue and the function of mitochondria (Hamilton 2018;
Bowden Davies et al. 2019). The lack of muscle contractions is the main cause
of muscle atrophy, along with a loss of muscle mass of up to 4 in 14 days
among younger individuals (Bowden Davies et al. 2019). Long-term inactivity
not only reduces the size of the muscle fibres, but also affects the quality and
function of the muscles (Arc-Chagnaud et al. 2020).
In addition to the aforementioned effects, pandemic diseases can also
have significant psychological effects. An important factor in their emer-
gence is the isolation people go through, a decrease in social activity, and
separation from one’s family (Brooks et al. 2020). The period of isolation
causes a decrease in social and physical contact, which might lead to mood
swings, a decrease in the motivation to study, and cause mental health issues
such as anxiety, stress, and depression (Brooks et al. 2020; Wong et al. 2005),
anhedonia, a lack of energy, and insomnia (World Health Organization 2017).
The World Health Organization (World Health Organization 2004, 12) de-
fines mental health as a state of well-being and effective functioning in which
an individual realizes their own abilities, is resilient to the stresses of life,
and is able to make a positive contribution to their community. Research
has shown that women are a more vulnerable group since the symptoms of
depression are twice as high among women than among men (Salk, Hyde,
and Abramson 2017). It is believed that this is the effect of the structure of
a society dominated by men, but that the causes can be genetic, ecologi-
cal, hormonal, and neurobiological in nature (Jalnapurkar, Allen, and Pigott
2018). Post-traumatic stress which emerges after physical and mental trauma
causes an intense sense of fear and helplessness (Lee et al. 2018). Fear and
helplessness during a pandemic which abounds in various unfavourable sit-
uations, combined with the aforementioned predispositions, could cause
more mental health problems among women, including a high level of de-
pression, anxiety, and symptoms of stress (Hawryluck et al. 2004; Lee et al.
2018). A study in which an online survey was used on three different occa-
sions to interview almost 25,000 student athletes of both genders and all
races during the COVID-19 pandemic indicated that there had been a de-
364
