Physical activity in a pandemic: A new treatment target for psychological therapy

Procrastination in the Intention-Behaviour gap: Exercise procrastination and the moderating role of emotion

Health behaviour procrastination is closely associated with the intention-behaviour gap. However, research on health behaviour procrastination has tended to focus on bedtime procrastination, with relatively few studies on exercise procrastination. This research examined the relationship between exercise procrastination and the intention-behaviour gap through three studies. Additionally, based on the temporal-affective self-regulation resource model, the moderating role of emotion as a self-regulatory resource in exercise procrastination was explored. Study 1 validated the Chinese version of the newly developed Procrastination in Exercise Scale in two Chinese adult samples (N = 2376 and N = 393). Study 2 collected two waves of data from 447 Chinese adults (Mage = 31.19) and examined the mediating role of exercise procrastination in the intention-behaviour gap. Using a sample of 453 Chinese adults (Mage = 20.39), Study 3 investigated the moderating role of positive and negative affect in the association between intention and exercise procrastination. Cross-lagged analyses revealed the predictive roles of Time 1 intention on Time 2 exercise procrastination and Time 1 exercise procrastination on Time 2 physical activity. Exercise procrastination mediated the relationship between intention and physical activity. Examining the moderating role of emotion between intention (Time 1) and exercise procrastination (Time 2), Study 3 found that negative affect buffered this association. Findings highlight the role of exercise procrastination in explaining the intention-behaviour gap and shed new light on physical activity interventions, with implications for promoting exercise behaviour.

The association between COVID-19 preventive strategies, virtual reality exercise, use of fitness apps, physical, and psychological health: testing a structural equation moderation model

Background

Directly or indirectly, individual psychosocial characteristics, motivation, and health consciousness factors help to maintain physical and psychological health through maintaining physical activity.

Objective

In the current study, we investigated how fitness apps moderate the links among COVID-19 preventive strategies, virtual reality exercise, physical health, and psychological health in Chinese society.

Method

A nationwide online survey across China was conducted under a snowball sampling design from February to June 2022. A total of 3,000 questionnaires were distributed across China via online platforms. A total of 2,795 complete detailed replies were included in the final analysis. Structural equation modeling techniques were employed to analyze the collected data through Smart-PLS 3.0.

Results

It has been statically proved that all the scales used in this inquiry to determine the mean scores, standard deviation, excess kurtosis, and skewness values were reliable and produced satisfactory results. The overall results (H1: β = 0.385, t = 15.699, p = 0.000; H2: β = 0.159, t = 7.405, p = 0.000; H3: β = 0.122, t = 5.435, p = 0.000; H4: β = 0.143, t = 6.493, p = 0.000; H5: β = 0.157, t = 6.444, p = 0.000; H6: β = 0.184, t = 9.071, p = 0.000; H7: β = 0.192, t = 9.319, p = 0.000; H8: β = 0.235, t = 11.899, p = 0.000; H9: β = -0.114, t = 4.872, p = 0.000; H10: β = 0.042, t = 2.872, p = 0.004; H11: β = 0.041, t = 2.699, p = 0.007) supported our hypothetical model and explained that using fitness apps and virtual reality exercise benefits physical and psychological health.

Conclusion

The fitness app's primary purpose during and after the pandemic is to motivate users to keep up with their regular at-home workouts. Exercise and active living are helpful in the prevention of risk factors associated with physical inactivity.

The direct effect of exercise on the mental health of scientific and technological professionals and the mediating effects of stress, resilience, and social support

Background

High working pressure is one of the main causes of occupational sub-health problems in scientific and technological professionals. With the development of exercise psychology, an increasing number of scholars have begun to focus on the influence of exercise on mental health. However, a limited number of scholars have investigated the effects of exercise on mental health and related mechanisms among scientific and technological professionals. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between exercise and the mental health of scientific and technological professionals and the mediating roles of stress, resilience, and social support.

Methods

The respondents in this study were recruited using snowball sampling techniques and finally collected a total of 1,248 valid responses. Questionnaires were distributed through "www.wjx.cn (An online questionnaire website in China, which provides similar functions with Amazon MTurk)" in Henan province from November to December 2021. Participants were asked to complete the Positive Mental Health Scale, the stress subscale of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (21 items), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale. A total of 1,248 valid responses were obtained.

Results

The mean exercise time of males was longer than that of females (t = 3.65, p < 0.01). Exercise and mental health were significantly associated with differences in age (F = -8.57, F = -4.66, p < 0.01) and educational background (F = 12.86, F = 7.14, p < 0.01). There were significant correlations among exercise, mental health, stress, resilience, and social support (p < 0.01). The direct effects of exercise on mental health were significant (β = 0.271, t = 9.577, p < 0.001), and the mediating effects of stress, resilience, and social support were also significant (χ²/df = 4.72, CFI = 0.940, TLI = 0.935, SRMR = 0.048, RMSEA = 0.055).

Conclusion

This study explored the effects of exercise on mental health and related mechanisms among scientific and technological professionals, which is beneficial to providing effective suggestions for managing and preventing the mental health of scientific and technological professionals. Future research should include a wider range of participants and adopt a longitudinal follow-up design to more deeply investigate the relationship between exercise and the mental health of scientific and technological professionals.

Anxiety and Depression Among College Students During the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Jiangsu, China

Background

This study aimed to explore the levels of anxiety and depression in a sample of home-quarantined college students to identify the risk factors for psychological distress during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Methods

A total of 1156 college students studying in Jiangsu, China, participated from August 5 to August 14. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data anonymously, including demographic characteristics, the generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire, the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a physical activity scale, and items related to COVID-19. The chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were employed to establish the differences in levels of anxiety and depression across sociodemographic characteristics. Binary logistic regression was applied to measure the predictors of levels of anxiety and depression, and associations were considered significant at p <0.05.

Results

The estimates of anxiety and depression were 48.1% and 57.6%, respectively. The univariate analysis indicated a significant difference in anxiety levels across student grades, whether the student was an only child, the distance from the worst-hit areas, and physical activity/exercise intensity. Physical activity intensity and living in communities with infected people were statistically correlated with the level of depression. Binary logistic regression results indicated that the predictive factors for anxiety were living within a short distance from the worst-hit areas (10~20 km), engaging in higher education (graduate students), and low-intensity daily exercise. Factors statistically predicting depression symptoms were having siblings, a COVID-19 diagnosis in the community and low-intensity daily exercise.

Conclusion

During outbreaks, students in an extremely stressful state are more likely to develop anxiety and depression, particularly postgraduates. Psychological interventions to reduce fears and encourage exercise should be available to home-quarantined college students. Students who live in the worst-hit areas and are not the only child in the family should be prioritized.

Association between Physical Fitness Index and Psychological Symptoms in Chinese Children and Adolescents

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between different physical fitness indices (PFIs) and psychological symptoms and each dimension (emotional symptoms, behavioral symptoms, social adaptation difficulties) of Chinese children and adolescents. Methods: A total of 7199 children and adolescents aged 13−18 in Jiangxi Province, China, were tested for grip strength, standing long jump, sit-ups, sit and reach, repeated straddling, 50 m run, 20 m shuttle run test (20 m SRT) items. The physical fitness indicators were standardized, converted to Z score and added up to obtain the PFI, and the self-assessment of the psychological section of the multidimensional sub-health questionnaire of adolescents (MSQA) to test the psychological symptoms, using the chi-square test to determine the psychological symptoms of different types of children and adolescents and binary logistic regression analysis to determine the association between psychological symptoms and different PFI grades. Results: The higher the PFI of Chinese children and adolescents, the lower the detection rate of psychological symptoms, emotional symptoms and social adaptation difficulties, from 25.0% to 18.4%, 31.3% to 25.7% and 20.1% to 14.4%, respectively. These results were statistically significant (χ2 = 14.073, 9.332, 12.183, p < 0.05). Taking the high-grade PFI as a reference, binary logistic regression analysis was performed. Generally, compared with the high-grade PFI, children and adolescents with a low-grade PFI (OR = 1.476, 95% CI: 1.200−1.814) or medium-grade PFI (OR = 1.195, 95% CI: 1.010−1.413) had a higher risk of psychological symptoms (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The lower the PFI of Chinese children and adolescents, the higher the detection rate of psychological symptoms, showing a negative correlation. In the future, measures should be taken to improve the physical fitness level of children and adolescents in order to reduce the incidence of psychological symptoms and promote the healthy development of children and adolescents.

A Study on the Correlation Between Undergraduate Students’ Exercise Motivation, Exercise Self-Efficacy, and Exercise Behaviour Under the COVID-19 Epidemic Environment

The outbreak of COVID-19 epidemic has influenced human beings from various aspects including physical exercise behaviours. This study aims to explore the influence of the COVID-19 epidemic on exercise self-efficacy and exercise behaviour, as well as the intermediary effects of exercise motivation. A sample of 1,115 undergraduate students was investigated using the physical exercise behaviour scale, exercise self-efficacy scale, and exercise motivation scale, combined with the COVID-19 epidemic environment as an influencing factor. SPSS was used for statistical analysis and AMOS for the prediction model building. Logical analysis was undertaken to sort out and analyse the data. The structural equation model reveals that exercise self-efficacy has a positive effect on exercise motivation and exercise behaviour. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 epidemic environment negatively influences exercise behaviour through the intermediary role of exercise self-efficacy and exercise motivation. Moreover, the intermediary effect of exercise self-efficacy is greater than that of exercise self-efficacy and exercise motivation. This study provides both theoretical implications and practical guidelines for society and undergraduate students to improve their exercise behaviour during epidemic.

Demographic Characteristics and Digital Platforms for Physical Activity Among the Chinese Residents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mediating Analysis

Background

Aim

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Women's Lives Matter-The Critical Need for Women to Prioritize Optimal Physical Activity to Reduce COVID-19 Illness Risk and Severity

Physical activity (PA) is beneficial for the health and wellness of individuals and societies. During an infectious disease pandemic, such as the one caused by COVID-19, social distancing, quarantines, and lockdowns are used to reduce community spread of the disease. Unfortunately, such nonpharmacological interventions or physical risk mitigation measures also make it challenging to engage in PA. Reduced PA could then trigger physiological changes that affect both mental and physical health. In this regard, women are more likely to experience physical and psychological distress. PA is a safe and effective nonpharmacological modality that can help prevent and manage several mental and physical health problems when performed correctly. PA might even confer benefits that are directly related to decreasing COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in women. In this review, we summarize why optimal PA must be a priority for women during the COVID-19 pandemic. We then discuss chronic COVID-19 illness and its impact on women, which further underscores the need for worldwide preventive health strategies that include PA. Finally, we discuss the importance of vaccination against COVID-19 for women, as part of prioritizing preventive healthcare and an active lifestyle.

Protectors of Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Key Roles for Gratitude and Tragic Optimism in a UK-Based Cohort

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a global threat to physical and mental health worldwide. Research has highlighted adverse impacts of COVID-19 on wellbeing but has yet to offer insights as to how wellbeing may be protected. Inspired by developments in wellbeing science and guided by our own theoretical framework (the GENIAL model), we examined the role of various potentially protective factors in a sample of 138 participants from the United Kingdom. Protective factors included physical activity (i.e., a health behaviour that helps to build psychological wellbeing), tragic optimism (optimism in the face of tragedy), gratitude (a prosocial emotion), social support (the perception or experience of being loved, cared for, and valued by others), and nature connectedness (physical and psychological connection to nature). Initial analysis involved the application of one-sample t-tests, which confirmed that wellbeing (measured by the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being scale) in the current sample (N = 138; M = 46.08, SD = 9.22) was significantly lower compared to previous samples (d = -0.36 and d = -0.41). Protective factors were observed to account for up to 50% of variance in wellbeing in a hierarchical linear regression that controlled for a range of sociostructural factors including age, gender, and subjective social status, which impact on wellbeing but lie beyond individual control. Gratitude and tragic optimism emerged as significant contributors to the model. Our results identify key psychological attributes that may be harnessed through various positive psychology strategies to mitigate the adverse impacts of hardship and suffering, consistent with an existential positive psychology of suffering.

Longitudinal changes in anxiety and psychological distress, and associated risk and protective factors during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic is related to multiple stressors and therefore may be associated with psychological distress. The aim of this study was to longitudinally assess symptoms of (un-)specific anxiety and depression along different stages of the pandemic to generate knowledge about the progress of psychological consequences of the pandemic and to test the role of potential risk and resilience factors that were derived from cross-sectional studies and official recommendations.

METHODS

The present study uses a longitudinal observational design with four waves of online data collection (from March 27 to June 15, 2020) in a convenience sample of the general population in Germany. A total of N = 2376 participants that completed at least two waves of the survey were included in the analyses.

FINDINGS

Specific COVID-19-related anxiety and the average daily amount of preoccupation with the pandemic decreased continuously over the four waves. Unspecific worrying and depressive symptoms decreased on average but not on median level. Self-efficacy, normalization, maintaining social contacts, and knowledge, where to get medical support, were associated with fewer symptoms relative to baseline. Suppression, unhealthy habits, and a longer average daily time of thinking about the pandemic were correlated with a relative increase of symptoms.

INTERPRETATION

Our findings provide insight into the longitudinal changes of symptoms of psychological distress along the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Furthermore, we were able to reaffirm the anticipated protective and risk factors that were extracted from previous studies and recommendations.

COVID-19 quarantine: Two-way interaction between physical activity and mental health

Recent studies have revealed that physical activity significantly reduces the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection by strengthening the immune system. Also, regular physical activity can reduce the risks of developing physical and mental health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, stress, anxiety, depression, etc. However, the two-way interaction between physical activity and psychological symptoms has not been well addressed yet. This paper is intended to examine various dimensions of this interaction and its effects on mental health at the time of COVID-19 quarantine.

COVID-19-The largest isolation study in history: the value of shared learnings from spaceflight analogs

The world is currently experiencing the largest isolation experiment in history. In an attempt to slow down the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic numerous countries across the world have been shutting down economies, education, and public life. Governments have mandated strict regulations of quarantine and social distancing in an unprecedented manner. The effects of these measures on brain, behavior, neuro-humoral and immunological responses in humans are largely unknown. Life science research for space exploration has a long history in using high-fidelity spaceflight analogs to better understand the effect of prolonged isolation and confinement on genes, molecules, cells, neural circuits, and physiological systems to behavior. We here propose to leverage the extensive experience and data from these studies and build a bridge between spaceflight research and clinical settings to foster transdisciplinary approaches to characterize the neurobehavioral effects on the immune system and vice versa. These approaches are expected to develop innovative and efficient health screening tools, diagnostic systems, and treatments to mitigate health risks associated with isolation and confinement on Earth and during future exploratory spaceflight missions.

Social Cognition and Socioecological Predictors of Home-Based Physical Activity Intentions, Planning, and Habits during the COVID-19 Pandemic

'Shelter in place' and 'lockdown' orders implemented to minimize the spread of COVID-19 have reduced opportunities to be physically active. For many, the home environment emerged as the only viable option to participate in physical activity. Previous research suggests that availability of exercise equipment functions as a determinant of home-based physical activity participation among the general adult population. The purpose of this study was to use a socioecological framework to investigate how the availability of exercise equipment at home predicts behavioral decisions, namely, intention, planning, and habits with respect to participation in physical activity. Participants (n = 429) were adults recruited in U.S. states subject to lockdown orders during the pandemic who completed measures online. A structural equation model indicated that availability of cardiovascular and strength training equipment predicted physical activity planning. Social cognition constructs mediated the relationship between each type of exercise equipment and intentions. Autonomous motivation and perceived behavioral control were found to mediate the relationship between each type of exercise equipment and habit. The availability of large cardiovascular and strength training equipment demonstrated significant predictive effects with intention, planning, habit, and autonomous motivation. Facilitating these constructs for home-based physical activity interventions could be efficacious for promoting physical activity.