Effects of COVID-19 on physical activity and mood in the middle-aged people: Concerns and strategies
Alireza Aghababa1
, Hadi Rohani2, Maghsood Nabilpoor3, Apostolos Theos4, J. Kinglesy Derek5, Seyed Houtan Shahidi6
1Sport Psychology Department, Sport Sciences Research Institute, Tehran, Iran
2Exercise Physiology Department, Sport Sciences Research Institute, Tehran, Iran
3Sport Sciences, International University, Qazvin, Iran
4Sport Medicine Department, Umea University, Umea, Sweden
5Exercise Physiology Department, Cardiovascular Dynamics Laboratory, Ohio, United States
6Sport Coaching Department, Gedik University, İstanbul, Turkey
Keywords: Physical activity, health protection, psychological mood, COVID-19
Abstract
Objective: To assess the impact of coronavirus on the physical activity levels before and during self-quarantine, and the effect of self-isolation on the total mood status of Iranian citizens during the covid-19 pandemic.
Material and Methods: A national sample of 2359 middle-aged (M age=42.8±5.3 years, n=1183,50.1%, male; n=1148, 48.7% female) Iranian completed an online questionnaire that assessed changes in daily physical activity behavior and mood status from March 20th to April 20th, 2020. The questionnaire implemented to collect the total duration, intensity, and frequency of physical activity and their psychological mood condition via the BRUMS Mood Scale.
Results: There were significant differences between physical activity frequency, duration, and intensity before and during the coronavirus pandemic. There was no significant difference between the total mood conditions between the sex categories. The main key finding of the current study is that the total physical activity participation behavior of our middle-aged populations has decreased meaningfully.
Conclusion: The present study has provided important approaches that should be implemented to promote the engagement of middle-aged adults in physical activity. Therefore, based on scientific evidence, maintaining a regular physical activity routine regarding world health organization guidelines is a key strategy for physical health.
Cite this article as: ghababa A, Rohani H, Nabilpoor M, Theos A, Derek JK, Shahidi SH. Effects of COVID-19 on physical activity and mood in the middle-aged people: Concerns and strategies. Turk J Sports Med. 2022;57(1):38-43; https://doi.org/10.47447/tjsm.0609
The approval for this study was obtained from Sport Sciences Research Istitute, Iran (Decision no: IR.SSRC.REC.1399.070 Date: 19.08.2020).
Concept: AA, HR, MN, AB; Methodology: HR, AA,, SHS; Formal analysis, interpretation: SHS, HR; Writing original draft preparation: SHS, AT, JDK; Revising the work critically for important intellectual content: SHS, JDK,AT.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to authorship and/or publication of the article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or publication of this article.
