Influencing Factors of Students Aged 10–20 Non-participating in Home Physical Exercise During the COVID-19 Isolation Policy Period: A Cross-Sectional Study From China

Abstract

BackgroundA number of public health measures are required during the COVID-19 pandemic. To stop the spread of COVID-19, the Chinese government has adopted isolation policies, including closing non-essential businesses, public transportation and schools, moving students' face-to-face learning to online, and recommending the cancellation of all non-essential activities and outdoor activities. However, while this isolation strategy has reduced human-to-human transmission of COVID-19, it has led to dramatic changes in students' daily lives and learning styles, including reduced physical activity and increased sedentary time. Considering the potentially harmful effects of physical inactivity, this study hoped to explore the incidence and influencing factors of non-participation in home physical exercise among Chinese students aged 10–20 during the implementation of the COVID-19 isolation policy.MethodsThrough an online questionnaire platform, this study created an open-ended questionnaire (from March 1, 2020 to March 10, 2020) and distributed it to students in areas where isolation policies were enforced. The questionnaire was initially distributed by 10 recruited volunteers, and then the questionnaire was voluntarily forwarded and shared by the subjects or others, in a “snowball” way, to expand distribution. Finally, the survey data of 4,532 Chinese students aged 10–20 were collected. The incidence of respondents non-participating in home physical activity was determined using univariate analysis. Using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of a multivariate binary logistic regression model, factors influencing non-participation in home physical exercise were estimated.ResultsAmong the sample students, the incidence rate of non-participating in home physical exercise was 25.86% (24.06–27.15%). Exercise intentions, exercise habits, self-assessed health, beliefs in physical health, family exercise, family exercise recommendations, home exercise conditions, school exercise guidance, and health education programs had a negative impact on students non-participating in home physical exercise. Academic performance and electronic product use had a positive effect on non-participating in home physical exercise.ConclusionsA variety of forward leaning factors, enabling factors and demand factors have affected the occurrence of students” non-participating in home physical exercise. Future health isolation policies should take into account these influencing factors to reduce the occurrence of students” non-participating in home physical exercise and to promote students' independent participation in physical exercise.

Understanding COVID: Collaborative Government Campaign for Citizen Digital Health Literacy in the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Second, although most of the activities were always evidence-based and oriented towards infection prevention and management in a pandemic setting [ 45 ], other activities and groups, such as the promotion of physical activity [ 46 ], college students [ 47 ], and the ‘emotional well-being’ intervention [ 48 ], could have been taken more into account. On the contrary, it was decided not to focus solely on encouraging vaccination, as was done in many countries [ 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ], since in Spain, the public response to the vaccine was very favorable, probably due to high confidence in the vaccination and in the health system [ 57 ].…”

Academic performance of online physical education learning during COVID-19 outbreak: systematic literature review

“…This virus also causes schools, places entertainment, and facilities sports to close so a strategy is needed to prevent transmission [6]- [8]. During the lockdown activity physical use permanently maintain the health and fitness of students, a survey from Luo et al [9] shows 25.86% of students aged 10-20 years did not conduct physical activity during the lockdown period. We cannot disregard that since it will lead to their poor health.…”