Association between Physical Activity and Mood States of Children and Adolescents in Social Isolation during the COVID-19 Epidemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 epidemic adversely affects the lifestyle of people. This study aimed to examine the impacts of social isolation on physical activity (PA) levels and mood states of children and adolescents and to explore the correlation between them during the COVID-19 epidemic. A total of 9979 children and adolescents (11.63 ± 1.23 years old) from Yan’an, China volunteered to participate in this study and completed online questionnaires. PA and mood states were measured by International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and Profile of Mood States (POMS), respectively. The results showed that the mean of students’ moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) was 23.19 min per day. The total mood disturbance in the moderate and high-level PA groups were significantly lower than those in the low-level PA group (p < 0.05). Additionally, boys and girls had significant differences in PA levels (p < 0.01), and the PA levels of students in different grades were also significantly different (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, boys’ mood states were worse than girls’. The Grade 4 in primary schools had the worst mood states while Grade 5 had the best mood states. The results suggested that the MVPA of students has dropped badly, compared with the results of previous studies investigated in normal times. In addition, the PA level had a significantly positive impact on the mood states of children and adolescents during the COVID-19 epidemic. Sex and grades were factors which affected the PA levels and mood states. This study can help policymakers and healthcare professionals understand PA and mood states of Chinese children and adolescents during the epidemic. We should pay attention to the changes in PA levels and mood states of children and adolescents.

Physical Activity in Adolescents with and without Type 1 Diabetes during the New Zealand COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown of 2020

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Stress, Emotional Intelligence and the Intention to Use Cannabis in Spanish Adolescents: Influence of COVID-19 Confinement

“…In addition, the practice of physical activity (PA) in adolescents is related to their mood, where PA is significantly associated with the different moods of adolescents during the COVID-19 epidemic. It has been shown that the higher the level of PA, the better the mood (Zhang et al, 2020).…”

“…Those college students who exercised regularly and continued their exercise habits during the COVID-19 outbreak correlated significantly with lower scores on the depression, anxiety and stress scale (Deng et al, 2020). However, the confinement brought about by COVID-19 virus reduced the outdoor activities of adolescents, and it has been seen how, although boys are more resistant to social isolation, girls experience a greater impact on their moods (Zhang et al, 2020). The current situation affects children, adolescents and families so exceptionally.…”

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