Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is a global event that has already had substantive negative impacts on psychological well-being. This study investigated the relationship between physical activity (PA) and psychological well-being during a country-wide COVID-19 lockdown in New Zealand. Motivational quality and PA context (nature-based or non-nature-based) were included as potential mediating and moderating variables within this relationship, respectively. Participants completed an online survey assessing psychological well-being, weekly PA levels, and PA during the second and third weeks of the 7 week COVID-19 lockdown period in New Zealand. Data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling. Results showed that PA significantly predicted psychological well-being, with no significant difference evident in psychological well-being dependent on whether PA was nature or non-nature-based. Nature-based PA was a stronger predictor of intrinsic motivation compared to non-nature-based PA, and intrinsic motivation was positively associated with psychological well-being. In contrast, non-nature-based PA was a stronger predictor of introjected regulation compared to nature-based PA, which was negatively associated with psychological well-being. Overall, these findings suggest that (1) weekly PA was associated with increased psychological well-being during the lockdown, and (2) nature-based PA may foster psychological well-being via effects on motivation. The implications for continued participation in PA will be discussed.
Highlights
On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) designated the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic (World Health Organisation, 2020a)
This study investigated the relationship between physical activity (PA) and psychological well-being during the New Zealand (NZ) COVID-19 lockdown period, and whether motivational quality had a mediating role in this relationship
Intrinsic motivation positively mediated the relationship between weekly PA and psychological well-being, but unexpectedly there was no significant difference between PA contexts
Summary
On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) designated the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic (World Health Organisation, 2020a). In New Zealand (NZ), the government declared a mandatory “Level 4 Lockdown” to control the virus spread, which lasted from March 25 to April 27, 2020. During this time period, residents were urged to stay at home unless undertaking a limited range of “essential” activities, including for certain types of employment (e.g., healthcare), shopping. Encouraging outdoor physical activity (PA) formed a part of the government’s attempt to mitigate the potential for psychological distress related to COVID-19 events. Research undertaken during the lockdown period in New Zealand (e.g., Every-Palmer et al, 2020) and globally (e.g., Roma et al, 2020; Vindegaard and Benros, 2020) supported these predictions providing evidence of increased depression, anxiety, and psychological distress
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