Effect of a home-based exercise programme on mental health and well-being in children during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

ABSTRACT Little is known about effective strategies to cope with mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of current study was to assess the effectiveness of a home-based exercise programme on mental health and well-being in a group of children who were quarantined at home during the pandemic. A randomised clinical trial was conducted on children aged 9–11 during home quarantine periods due to the coronavirus outbreak. A total of 160 eligible participants were randomised into either the intervention group (IG, n = 80) or wait-list control group (CG, n = 80). Children recruited to IG engaged in a 16-session home-based physical activity programme delivered four times weekly, with a duration of sixty minutes, for four consecutive weeks. The primary outcomes were the changes in depression, anxiety, and well-being scores after a four-week exercise programme relative to baseline. The data of 124 participants (65 in IG and 59 in CG) according to Per-Protocol (PP) and data of all samples as Intention to Treat (ITT) were analyzed. The exercise intervention was associated with a significant improvement in odds of anxiety, depression, and well-being in both PP and ITT populations (P < 0.05). The results showed that a home-based exercise programme for children who are experiencing social distancing and isolation restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic can help reduce anxiety and depression symptoms and increase well-being. These findings support the use of exercise programmes to mitigate psychological problems during high-stress or crisis situations similar to COVID-19 pandemic.