Anxiety and Leisure-Domain Physical Activity Frequency, Duration, and Intensity During Covid-19 Pandemic.

Cassio M Meira,Alex A Florindo,Maysa P G Leopoldo,Kaique S Meneguelli

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.603770

Abstract

This study investigated relationships between state anxiety and leisure-domain physical activity levels during Covid-19 pandemic. We used frequency, duration, and intensity as key variables of physical activity. Trait anxiety, state anxiety before pandemic, age, gender, and education level were also included in the analysis. Our general hypothesis was that participants who declared doing more physical activity levels would exhibit lower levels of anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic. A convenient sample of 571 volunteer adults (mean age 39 ± 14 years) was drawn mainly from São Paulo State (89.2% of the sample), the epicenter of Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil. To obtain the participants’ levels of anxiety (trait, state before pandemic, and state during pandemic) we used a validated short-version of the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory. Levels of physical activity were measured via questions from VIGITEL, a validated questionnaire about the individual’s habits on risk factors. Answers were given regarding the first week of March 2020 (before pandemic) and at the very moment the participant was filling in the electronic form (June 2020). Data analyses were conducted through descriptive and inferential techniques, with the use of non-parametric tests and linear regression models. Overall, participants’ responses indicate that anxiety levels were higher during the pandemic compared to the period that preceded the pandemic, and that frequent and long physical activity in the leisure-domain reduced anxiety, regardless its intensity. The regression models revealed an inverse relationship between physical activity and anxiety (the more physical activity, the less anxiety) and independent of gender, age, education level, trait anxiety, and physical activity before pandemic.

Highlights

High levels of anxiety have been regarded as a factor that provokes feelings of personal vulnerability because it negatively affects well-being and everyday functioning (Asmundson et al, 2010)
Individuals with high levels of anxiety tend to respond to perceived threatening situations with reactions that are disproportionate to the objective danger when compared to those with low levels (Spielberger and Reheiser, 2009)
According to Jones’ model, the individual might interpret the stressor in the environment as either a challenge or a threat, influencing differentially physical activity and anxiety levels

Summary

Introduction

High levels of anxiety have been regarded as a factor that provokes feelings of personal vulnerability because it negatively affects well-being and everyday functioning (Asmundson et al, 2010). Jones model of anxiety is centered on the degree of control the individual is able to exert over the self and the environment. Those who have selfperception to be capable of being in control and to achieving the goals tend to fathom anxiety symptoms as facilitative, whereas the ones who regard themselves as unable to control themselves and have diminished expectations about goal achievement are prone to construe as debilitative the anxiety effects. According to Jones’ model, the individual might interpret the stressor in the environment as either a challenge or a threat, influencing differentially physical activity and anxiety levels. Sport studies have showed that the athletes who interpret stressors as a challenge are more inclined to exhibit superior performance (Weinberg and Gould, 2017)

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