To examine the indirect relationships between physical activity, and well-being (i.e., need satisfaction, subjective vitality, and stress) of individuals, through recovery experiences (i.e., detachment from lockdown, relaxation, mastery, and control over leisure time) during the spring 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. Methods. 405 participants answered an online survey including questions on physical activity, recovery experiences, subjective vitality, perceived stress, and basic psychological needs satisfaction. Structural equation modeling tested a full-mediated model in which physical activity predicted recovery experience, which in turn predicted well-being. Results. Physical activity was positively related to a latent variable representing recovery experiences, which in turn was positively related to a latent variable representing well-being. Conclusions. Physical activity carried out regularly during the COVID-19 lockdown positively predicted well-being through recovery experiences. The study results highlight the importance of maintaining or increasing physical activity during periods when recovery experiences and well-being may be threatened.

Background: Research has shown important between-individual variations in physical activity (PA) during the COVID-19 lockdown.Objectives: The objectives of this is study are to examine the individual, sociodemographic, and environmental factors related to PA during the spring 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in France and to explore the mediating and moderating role of intention and self-efficacy toward PA in the relationships between sociodemographic/environmental variables and PA.Design: In this cross-sectional study, participants living in France (N = 386) completed an online survey between March 30 and April 10, 2020.Method: Minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous PA during the lockdown; usual physical activity before the lockdown; and psychological (e.g., intention, self-efficacy, and autonomous and controlled motivation), sociodemographic (gender, age, and number of children), and environmental (habitat surface area and type of housing) factors were measured in the survey. Multiple linear regressions were used to investigate the role of these predictors on PA. Intention and self-efficacy were also examined as moderators and mediators of the association between sociodemographic/environmental factors and PA.Results: Usual physical activity before the COVID-19 lockdown, intention toward PA, habitat surface area, and controlled motivation significantly predicted PA during the lockdown. No mediating effects of intention or self-efficacy were found. Intention significantly moderated the association between gender and PA and the association between part-time work and PA.Conclusions: PA during the COVID-19 lockdown was mainly predicted by individual factors and notably usual PA. These results highlight the important role of habits in a highly changing context.

Background. Recent findings have shown changes in physical activity (PA) levels during the COVID-19 lockdown.Objective. To appraise the psychological, sociodemographic and, environmental levers and barriers to PA during the COVID-19 lockdown.Method. In this cross-sectional study, participants living in France (N= 390) completed an on-line survey between March 30 and April 10. Questions about physical activity before and during the lockdown, psychological (e.g., intention, self-efficacy), sociodemographic (gender, age, number of children) and environmental (habitat surface area, type of housing) factors were included in this survey. Multiple linear regressions were used to investigate the role of psychological, sociodemographic, and environmental predictors on PA. Intention and self-efficacy were examined as moderators and mediators of the association between sociodemographic/environmental factors and PA.Results. Habitat surface area, intention toward physical activity, and usual physical activity before the COVID-19 lockdown predicted PA during the lockdown. No mediating effects of intention, and self-efficacy were found. Self-efficacy significantly moderated the association between number of children and PA. Intention significantly moderated the association between gender and PA.Conclusions. Psychological, sociodemographic, and environmental factors were significantly associated with moderate to vigorous PA during the COVID-19 lockdown in France. Additional research is needed to understand how socio-ecological factors might be implemented to promote physical activity.