Abstract
‘Shelter in place’ and ‘lockdown’ orders implemented to minimize the spread of COVID-19 have reduced opportunities to be physically active. For many, the home environment emerged as the only viable option to participate in physical activity. Previous research suggests that availability of exercise equipment functions as a determinant of home-based physical activity participation among the general adult population. The purpose of this study was to use a socioecological framework to investigate how the availability of exercise equipment at home predicts behavioral decisions, namely, intention, planning, and habits with respect to participation in physical activity. Participants (n = 429) were adults recruited in U.S. states subject to lockdown orders during the pandemic who completed measures online. A structural equation model indicated that availability of cardiovascular and strength training equipment predicted physical activity planning. Social cognition constructs mediated the relationship between each type of exercise equipment and intentions. Autonomous motivation and perceived behavioral control were found to mediate the relationship between each type of exercise equipment and habit. The availability of large cardiovascular and strength training equipment demonstrated significant predictive effects with intention, planning, habit, and autonomous motivation. Facilitating these constructs for home-based physical activity interventions could be efficacious for promoting physical activity.
Highlights
The health benefits of engaging in regular physical activity are well established [1]
A linage of work derived from primary studies and systematic reviews has supported how the presence, size, and attributes of exercise equipment determine its regular use [7,31,32]. These findings suggest that individuals who have access to large exercise equipment at home were generally more likely to use them compared to smaller equipment, though correlations and predictive effect sizes were modest in magnitude
As studies continue to emerge indicating the importance of remaining physically active during the pandemic [61,62,63], the current study offered a unique perspective by investigating the role of home exercise equipment
Summary
The health benefits of engaging in regular physical activity are well established [1]. Given the importance of immunity and effective stress management to health during the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining physical activity levels may have utility in minimizing maladaptive physical and mental health conditions [3,4]. Shelter-in-place and lockdown orders aimed at minimizing the spread of COVID-19 have disrupted the daily routine and habits of billions of people across the globe, including opportunities to be physically active. Many of these changes such as closures of gyms, recreation centers, and parks have created additional barriers for individuals to maintain a physically active lifestyle. Many people have been left with their homes as the only
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