Movement Behaviors And Mood Among Adolescent Females During The Pandemic: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound effects on youth movement behaviors (i.e., sedentary time [ST] and physical activity [PA]) and mental health. However, few studies have examined whether relationships between movement behaviors and mood vary by period of the day. We combined accelerometry with ecological momentary assessment to test this hypothesis among adolescent females during the COVID-19 pandemic. PURPOSE: To investigate whether the relationship between movement behaviors and affect (i.e., valence and arousal) vary by period of the day. METHODS: Twenty female adolescents (M = 15.7 years, SD = 1.69 years) living in Illinois were asked to wear an accelerometer for seven consecutive days on their right hip to obtain ST and PA. Affect data was collected in real-time using ecological momentary assessments through a mobile texting app. Accelerometer weekday data, arousal, and valence were all measured at the following periods: before school (between 6:00 am to 7:59 am), during school (between 8:00 am and 2:59 pm), after-school (between 3:00 pm and 5:59 pm), and evening (between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm). Bivariate correlations were used to probe for initial relationships between movement behaviors and affect during each period of the day. Significant correlations were subsequently tested in linear regression models controlling for age and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: Participants mostly identified as White (70%) and Latina (55%). The average BMI was 23.0 (SD = 4.1). Participants were most active during the afterschool hours (total PA = 10.3 min/hr) and most sedentary during school (total ST = 50.8 min/hr). Valence and activation were highest during the afterschool period (valence: M = 3.0, SD = 1.3; activation: M = 4.7, SD = 0.8) and lowest before school (valence: M = 2.0, SD = 1.4; activation: M = 3.4, SD = 0.8). MVPA was associated with activation during the afterschool hours (r = .57; p = 0.017). A positive trend was also observed between MVPA and the feeling scale (r = .43; p = 0.086) in the before-school period. Neither association was significant after controlling for age and BMI in regression analyses. CONCLUSION: Adolescent females demonstrated low levels of MVPA and high levels of ST due to the pandemic. MVPA before and after school may benefit valence and activation during this circumstance. Future research is warranted.