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Impact of an 8-Week Exercise and Sport Intervention on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, Mental Health, and Physical Fitness among Male Refugees Living in a Greek Refugee Camp

Author

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  • Florian Knappe

    (Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Flora Colledge

    (Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Markus Gerber

    (Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland)

Abstract

Objective: To explore the potential impact of exercise and sport training on symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, quality of life, pain, and fitness in male refugees living in a Greek refugee camp. Methods: This investigation was designed as a one group pre-test/post-test study. A total of 45 refugees ( M age = 25.6) participated in the data assessment. All participants were invited to engage in an 8-week exercise and sport intervention. Data were analysed with hierarchical regression analyses. Results: Baseline scores significantly predicted post-intervention scores across all study variables. Regression analyses showed that a higher participation rate predicted fewer anxiety symptoms, better health-related quality of life, higher self-perceived fitness, higher handgrip strength, and better cardiovascular fitness at post-intervention. A non-significant trend was also found for PTSD and depressive symptoms, showing that a higher participation rate was associated with fewer complaints at post-intervention. Conclusions: Among male refugees living in precarious conditions in a Greek refugee camp, frequency of participation in an 8-week exercise and sport training program seemed to have the potential to positively impact refugees’ health. Due to the pre-experimental study design, our results must be interpreted with caution.

Suggested Citation

  • Florian Knappe & Flora Colledge & Markus Gerber, 2019. "Impact of an 8-Week Exercise and Sport Intervention on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, Mental Health, and Physical Fitness among Male Refugees Living in a Greek Refugee Camp," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-17, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:20:p:3904-:d:276515
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Emily W. Flanagan & Arlette C. Perry, 2018. "Perception of Physical Fitness and Exercise Self-Efficacy and Its Contribution to the Relationship between Body Dissatisfaction and Physical Fitness in Female Minority Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-9, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Florian Knappe & Flora Colledge & Markus Gerber, 2019. "Challenges Associated with the Implementation of an Exercise and Sport Intervention Program in a Greek Refugee Camp: A Report of Professional Practice," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-19, December.
    2. Nikolaos Bountouvis & Eirini Koumpa & Niki Skoutarioti & Dimitrios Kladitis & Aristomenis K. Exadaktylos & Charalampos Anitsakis, 2024. "Burden of Disease in Refugee Patients with Diabetes on the Island of Lesvos—The Experience of a Frontline General Hospital," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(7), pages 1-16, June.

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