Barriers To Physical Activity During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

PURPOSE: The Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a substantial impact on PA behavior, and has created unique challenges for PA promotion (stay at home orders, gym closures, etc.). To better target PA promoting interventions, more research is needed on the influence of COVID-19 on barriers and facilitators of PA behavior. This study aimed to explore PA participation, and barriers to PA participation, in North Carolina (NC) residents during the NC stay at home order. METHODS: Participants (n = 193, mean age: 35.6y +/- 14.0) were recruited from 29 counties in NC during the COVID-19 stay at home order in April 2020. Participants completed an online survey about barriers to PA (how often a barrier prevented PA activity in the last month), PA activity over the last month (5 point likert scale ranging from “much lower” to “much higher” than usual), and weekly PA (International Physical Activity Questionnaire). Total min/week of PA was calculated from the IPAQ, and PA activity likert scale results were dichotomized as (1) lower than usual or (2) the same/higher than usual. RESULTS: Individuals who reported that their PA levels were lower than usual had significantly lower durations of weekly PA than those who reported that their PA levels were the same or higher (320.3 min/week vs. 538.7 min/week; t = -4.01; p < 0.001). Social support for PA was not significantly associated with weekly PA (r = -0.03, p = 0.67), however, personal, community, and health barriers were all significantly inversely associated with weekly PA (r = -0.36, p < 0.0001; r = -0.24, p = 0.0008; r = -0.17, p < 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of individuals reported lower than usual PA during the NC stay at home order, which was associated with reduced PA behavior. Social support (consistently shown to be a strong predictor of PA behavior), was not associated with PA participation, but personal, community, and health barriers were significantly associated with PA participation. These data suggest that, during the social isolation of COVID-19, the built environment, community resources, and personal factors may have more influence over PA behavior than social support. Although preliminary, these findings suggest that unique barriers may need to be taken into account when designing PA interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic.