Physical activity is positively associated with college students' positive affect regardless of stressful life events during the COVID-19 pandemic

Jaclyn P Maher; Derek J Hevel; Erin J Reifsteck; Eric S Drollette

doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101826

Physical activity is positively associated with college students' positive affect regardless of stressful life events during the COVID-19 pandemic

Psychol Sport Exerc. 2021 Jan:52:101826. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101826. Epub 2020 Oct 17.

Authors

Jaclyn P Maher¹, Derek J Hevel¹, Erin J Reifsteck¹, Eric S Drollette¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Kinesiology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA.

Abstract

The study was designed to determine associations between physical activity (PA) and affect before and during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and how change in PA predicted change in affect during this time. Before and during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, college students (n = 107) completed assessments of PA, positive and negative affect, sleep quality, food insecurity, and stressful life events (during stay-at-home order only). Total minutes of PA was positively associated with positive affect before (B = 0.01, p < 0.01) and during (B = 0.01, p = 0.01) COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Change in minutes of PA was positively associated with change in positive affect (B = 0.01, p = 0.01). Associations between PA and positive affect were not moderated by stressful life events. PA only predicted negative affect before COVID-19 stay-at-home orders (B = -0.003, p = 0.04). PA appears to enhance positive affect during a global pandemic. Findings have implications for PA as a tool for maintaining or enhancing mental health during a time of trauma and uncertainty.

Keywords: Coronavirus; Emotion; Exercise; Moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity; Sleep.