Alireza Aghababa

One of the most significant consequences of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is the anxiety and stress it causes among the general population, which can be reduced by engaging in regular physical activity. The aim of this study was to estimate the levels of physical activity and mood state during the COVID-19 quarantine among the Kermanshah population. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 2471 subjects (1256 males and 1215 females) were selected in the population of Kermanshah in the west of Iran, using the convenience sampling method. Physical activity levels were assessed using the physical activity (PA) questionnaire short form (IPAQ-SF), and mood state was measured by the abbreviated form of the Iranian version of the standard POMS questionnaire (Bill Morgan 1979). Participants completed the online questionnaire between March 28th and May 20th, 2020. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, and percentage), and deductive (Chi-square and Spearman's correlation) were used for data analysis. our study found that the majority of participants reported decreased PA levels during the quarantine period. Specifically, 71.7% reported a decrease in moderate-intensity physical activity, 80.5% reported a decrease in high-intensity PA, and 71.3% reported a decrease in the total volume of PA. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the number of sessions (P=0.001), intensity (P=0.001), and duration of exercise (P=0.001) before and during the coronavirus. There was a significant positive relationship between low (r=0.93; P=0.001) and high (r=0.673; P=0.034) levels of PA and negative mood state. Additionally, there was a positive relationship between moderate PA level (r=0.82; P=0.001) and a positive mood states. The study suggests that the current quarantine has negatively affected the mood states of the participants. Overall, the study recommends regular PA to prevent COVID-19 while adhering to health and safety protocols.

Background and aims: Due to the widespread prevalence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), to overcome and understand these conditions, it is necessary to survey the physical and psychological implications on individuals within the community to uncover effective solutions. This study aimed to investigate the changes in the level of physical activity and psychological well-being due to quarantine induced by COVID-19 in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study during the first peak of COVID-19 disease (April 10 to May 10, 2020). The International Online Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Short Mood Assessment Questionnaire were used to assess physical activity (before and during outbreak) and mood status (during outbreak), respectively, among 627 people in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Results: The samples consisted of male (20%) and female (80%) subjects. Upon comparing the physical activity before the disease outbreak and during the initial outbreak, it was demonstrated that the intensity (P<0.001), duration (P<0.001), and frequency (P<0.001) of physical activity significantly decreased after the outbreak of COVID-19. However, there was no difference between men and women in intensity, duration, and frequency of physical activity as well as psychological status (P=0.099). Further, no significant relationship was observed between physical activity variables (intensity, P=0.214, duration, P=0.386, and repetition, P=0.122) and psychological status. However, a significant positive relationship was found between adherence to quarantine and mental wellbeing (P=0.001). Conclusion: According to the results, the level of physical activity of the subjects decreased during the COVID-19 outbreak compared to before the outbreak, but the decrease in physical activity did not affect their mental state. However, the individuals who adhered to quarantine conditions experienced a worse negative mood compared to other groups. It seems that in addition to observing social distancing measures and adherence to quarantine, individuals’ overall health and physical activity levels are effective factors that can improve the body’s physiological systems and the psychological state and influence the positive mood of people.

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.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated governmental restrictions suddenly changed everyday life and potentially affected exercise behavior. The aim of this study was to explore whether individuals changed their preference for certain types of physical exercise during the pandemic and to identify risk factors for inactivity. An international online survey with 13,881 adult participants from 18 countries/regions was conducted during the initial COVID-19 related lockdown (between April and May 2020). Data on types of exercise performed during and before the initial COVID-19 lockdown were collected, translated, and categorized (free-text input). Sankey charts were used to investigate these changes, and a mixed-effects logistic regression model was used to analyze risks for inactivity. Many participants managed to continue exercising but switched from playing games (e.g., football, tennis) to running, for example. In our sample, the most popular exercise types during the initial COVID-19 lockdown included endurance, muscular strength, and multimodal exercise. Regarding risk factors, higher education, living in rural areas, and physical activity before the COVID-19 lockdown reduced the risk for inactivity during the lockdown. In this relatively active multinational sample of adults, most participants were able to continue their preferred type of exercise despite restrictions, or changed to endurance type activities. Very few became physically inactive. It seems people can adapt quickly and that the constraints imposed by social distancing may even turn into an opportunity to start exercising for some. These findings may be helpful to identify individuals at risk and optimize interventions following a major context change that can disrupt the exercise routine.

Exercise indexes have been affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its related restrictions among athletes. In the present study, we investigated the exercise frequency and intensity before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and also current exercise dependency and mood state among non-contact individual, contact individual, and team sports athletes. A total of 1353 athletes from non-contact individual sports athletes (NCISA), contact individual sports athletes (CISA) and team sport athletes (TSA) participated; 45.4% of them were females that completed a series of self-rating questionnaires covering sociodemographic information, former and current exercise patterns, exercise dependency and mood states. NCISA had less exercise frequency than CISA, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and NCISA had less exercise frequency than TSA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding exercise intensity, CISA had higher scores than NCISA and TSA before the COVID-19 pandemic, and CISA had more exercise intensity than TSA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frequency and intensity were reduced from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic in the three groups, except for TSA intensity. In addition, positive and negative mood states were correlated with exercise dependency. CISA were more discouraged and vigorous than NCISA and TSA, respectively. For NCISA, CISA, and TSA, ordinal regressions separately showed that adherence to quarantine and exercise dependency were better predictors of exercise indexes. Finally, exercise dependency subscales were different among sports, but it was not in exercise dependency itself. Although the decrease in exercise indexes was noticeable, there was no consistent pattern of change in exercise behavior in all sports. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, negative moods were predominant among all athletes. The results discussed are based on exercise nonparticipating, sport type, and affect regulation hypothesis.