# The Impact of Physical Education Classes on Health and Quality of Life during the COVID-19
###### Abstract  
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being and the quality of life of college students participating in physical education classes. We consider this study to be relevant because during the COVID-19 pandemic we tested whether the boost in effective activity among physical education class participants affected well-being and quality of life. A sectional questionnaire survey was conducted across Taiwan in 2019-2020. Data were collected in two stages within 6 months from a sample of 1011 university students in Taiwan (328 male, 683 female). A series of one-way ANOVAs was adopted to examine each outcome across groups and time phases. The results provide support for a positive relationship between well-being (\(\beta\) = 0.25, \(p\) < 0.001), and quality of life (\(\beta\) = 0.92, \(p\) < 0.001), supporting our expectations. Findings from our study suggest that physical activity was positively associated with mental health; and participation in physical activity had an effect on the well-being and quality of life in college students. COVID-19; physical activity; mental health; health behaviors; college student +
Footnote †: journal: Medical  
be designed in a way that introduces students to different sports activities, improves their athletic skills, encourages engaging in PA regularly throughout life, and teaches the importance of movement to a healthy life [3]. Thanks to positive health outcomes, which is the goal of PE lessons, students become aware of the benefits of PA. The motivation this awareness fosters contributes to them putting sports at the center of their lives. Thus, students who participate in sports have the knowledge and understanding of how to continue PA, how to communicate with others, and how to express themselves. They gain motivation to participate in PA, and develop physical self-perception and self-efficacy [4; 5; 6]. No matter how environmental conditions change, those who participate in PA exhibit confidence and maintain their well-being while practicing their movement skills [4; 5]. Meanwhile, there is overwhelming evidence of the role of the participation in sports in individuals' well-being and quality of life [4; 5]. In the context of PE, participation in sports has been found to contribute to various positive individual outcomes, such as lower illness and higher well-being [6], higher adaptive cognitive response [7], higher behavioral intention [8], as well as better behavioral persistence [9]. Because of the beneficial role of PE in promoting quality of life and health, researchers have focused on elevated outcomes from students' participation in PA. Reduced PA is one of the largest risk factors for global mortality [1]. Although there are studies that cannot confirm the relationship between PA and health factors, the majority of studies have indeed shown a positive relationship (e.g., [1; 2; 4; 6]). Thus, participation in sports is considered a national and global goal for a healthy population, and it is useful to further investigate the relationship between sport and other aspects of life. For example, people who are more frequently physically active not only feel healthier, but are also happier [3; 4]. COVID-19 was first identified in December 2019 in China and caused clusters of respiratory illnesses. However, it is not clear which factors of participating in sports stabilize individual well-being and quality of life during life-changing events like the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the advantages that participating in PA classes brings to the well-being and quality of life of students [5; 10], the purpose of this study was to examine the effects on the well-being and the quality of life of students who participate in PA classes in a university context. We consider this study to be relevant because during the COVID-19 pandemic, we tested whether students could boost effective activity by participating in PE classes.