Background: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic led governments to adopt strict containment measures to avoid spreading the virus. These essential measures led to home confine-ment that influenced both the physical and mental health of populations. Physical activity plays a key role in preventing chronic diseases and promoting protective psychological factors. In the context of a lockdown, understanding the motives that guide people to enact physical activity is an important issue for public health. The present study aimed to evaluate the relation between autonomous motivation and physical activity, considering the role of behavioral intention and anxiety in a longitudinal moderated mediation model. Methods: Italian participants (N = 86; meanage = 29.74, standard deviation = 9.74; female = 53.5%) completed a booklet composed of different questionnaires (motivation, intention, anxiety, and physical activity) 3 weeks apart. Results: The hypothesized model is supported by the evidence; both autonomous motivation and intention are direct predictors of physical activity. The results also show that the direct effect of autonomous motivation on physical activity is stronger in participants with low anxiety, while high levels of anxiety are a significant mod-erator of the intention–behavior relation. Conclusions: In conclusion, a multidisciplinary approach should be promoting methods and infrastructures to permit people to adhere to physical activity, as a front line against any health emergency.

Anxiety, motives, and intention for physical activity during the Italian COVID-19 lockdown : an observational longitudinal study / F. Galli, F. Giancamilli, T. Palombi, J.A. Vitale, S. Borghi, A. De Maria, E. Cavicchiolo, P. Diotaiuti, A. La Torre, A. Zelli, F. Lucidi, R. Codella, A. Chirico. - In: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. - ISSN 1660-4601. - 19:8(2022 Apr 13), pp. 4689.1-4689.9. [10.3390/ijerph19084689]

Anxiety, motives, and intention for physical activity during the Italian COVID-19 lockdown : an observational longitudinal study

J.A. Vitale;S. Borghi;A. La Torre;R. Codella
Penultimo
;
2022

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic led governments to adopt strict containment measures to avoid spreading the virus. These essential measures led to home confine-ment that influenced both the physical and mental health of populations. Physical activity plays a key role in preventing chronic diseases and promoting protective psychological factors. In the context of a lockdown, understanding the motives that guide people to enact physical activity is an important issue for public health. The present study aimed to evaluate the relation between autonomous motivation and physical activity, considering the role of behavioral intention and anxiety in a longitudinal moderated mediation model. Methods: Italian participants (N = 86; meanage = 29.74, standard deviation = 9.74; female = 53.5%) completed a booklet composed of different questionnaires (motivation, intention, anxiety, and physical activity) 3 weeks apart. Results: The hypothesized model is supported by the evidence; both autonomous motivation and intention are direct predictors of physical activity. The results also show that the direct effect of autonomous motivation on physical activity is stronger in participants with low anxiety, while high levels of anxiety are a significant mod-erator of the intention–behavior relation. Conclusions: In conclusion, a multidisciplinary approach should be promoting methods and infrastructures to permit people to adhere to physical activity, as a front line against any health emergency.
COVID-19 lockdown; Italy; anxiety; moderated mediation model; motivation; physical activity; adult; anxiety; communicable disease control; depression; exercise; female; humans; intention; longitudinal studies; motivation; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19
Settore M-EDF/02 - Metodi e Didattiche delle Attivita' Sportive
Settore M-PSI/05 - Psicologia Sociale
Settore M-PSI/03 - Psicometria
13-apr-2022
hdl:2434/924581
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