Physical fitness and quality of life in Austrian adolescents post-COVID-19: A one-year longitudinal study

Vera Prünster; Martin Niedermeier; Armando Cocca; Gerhard Ruedl; Vera Prünster; Martin Niedermeier; Armando Cocca; Gerhard Ruedl

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2026048

AIMS Public Health

2026, Volume 13, Issue 3: 909-927. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2026048

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Research article

Physical fitness and quality of life in Austrian adolescents post-COVID-19: A one-year longitudinal study

1.
Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
2.
Department of Human Movement Sciences, University of Ostrava, Czech Republic

Received: 02 February 2026 Revised: 13 May 2026 Accepted: 29 May 2026 Published: 27 August 2026

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.
- physical fitness,
- health-related quality of life,
- physical well-being,
- psychological well-being,
- autonomy and parent relationship,
- peers and social support,
- school environment
Citation: Vera Prünster, Martin Niedermeier, Armando Cocca, Gerhard Ruedl. Physical fitness and quality of life in Austrian adolescents post-COVID-19: A one-year longitudinal study[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2026, 13(3): 909-927. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2026048

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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.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Funding Organization Förderkreis 1669 of the University of Innsbruck, Austria under Project Number P 6210–024–017 for the financial support of this study.

Authors' contribution

V.P. was primarily responsible for the conceptualization and methodology of the study, data collection and curation, statistical analysis, and preparation of the original manuscript. M.N. contributed statistical expertise and supported the statistical analysis. A.C. critically reviewed and revised the manuscript. G.R. made substantial contributions to the development of the research topic and study concept and critically reviewed and revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare there is no conflict of interest.

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