Is Physical Activity Associated with Mental Health among Chinese Adolescents during Isolation in COVID-19 Pandemic?

Abstract

Background: Restricted outdoor activities and online learning during COVID-19 pandemic may pose threats on the physical and mental health of Chinese adolescents in middle schools. The study was to explore the relationship of Physical Activity (PA) and Sedentary Time (SED) with mood states among Chinese adolescents during the pandemic. Methods: A total of 4898 adolescents (16.3 ± 1.3 years old) from 49 middle schools in 13 urban and rural areas in Yan’an, China volunteered to participate in this study and completed online questionnaires. International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were used to measure PA and SED, and Profile of Mood States were used to evaluate mood states. We used Mann–Whitney U -test and Kruskal–Wallis test to assess differences in PA and SED in different sex and grade group, respectively. Mixed linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between PA/SED and mood states. Results: Participants in our study accumulated 23.4 ± 52.5 min of moderate-to-vigorous PA and 363.6 ± 148.4 min of SED per day. The mood states of boys were better than that of girls ( p < 0.01). The mood states of the students in Senior High School Grade 3 were at the highest level of mood disturbance. Higher levels of PA were significantly associated with lower levels of total mood disturbance in this population (High PA group according to IPAQ: B = −3.22, SE = 0.40, p < 0.001; Moderate: B = −1.47, SE = 0.37, p < 0.001, compared to Low PA group). Conclusion: Chinese adolescents maintained a sedentary lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic. Girls and students in Grade 3 Senior High School had higher level of mood disturbance. More PA was associate with improving mood state among adolescents in the pandemic. The present study may assist policymakers and healthcare professionals understand PA and mood states of Chinese adolescents during the epidemic and take targeted actions in case of emergencies in future.

Impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle habits and mental health symptoms in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Canada

“…Physical activity was greatly modified during the pandemic, with half of caregivers reporting decreased athletic activity in their ADHD child. Low physical activity correlated positively with depression symptoms, a result also reported in a Chinese study that showed higher physical activity was significantly related to higher positive mood in youth during the pandemic ( 37 ). A recent meta-analysis of physical activity in paediatric ADHD reported significant improvements in depression, anxiety and aggressive behaviours due to physical activity intervention, and nonsignificant improvements in hyperactive/impulsive and inattention symptoms ( 38 ).…”

Self-reported Mental and Physical Health Among Norwegian Adolescents Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…They also reiterate growing concerns about physical activity in the context of pandemic-related facility closures and event cancellations. 29 , 30 , 32 They are also greatly relevant in a society characterized by both high cultural commitment to sports and high adolescent sports participation, 9 , 10 especially during the pandemic conditions, when physical activity may provide beneficial coping strategies 51 and promote resilience. 52 …”

Adolescent well‐being amid the COVID‐19 pandemic: Are girls struggling more than boys?

“…All of these behaviors have been linked to an increase in mental health problems. In contrast, some studies find that boys also report higher levels of vigorous physical activity compared to girls, which may confer protection against negative mental health outcomes (Chen et al., 2020 ; Dunton et al., 2020 ; Kang et al., 2020 ; Schmidt et al., 2020 ; Wright et al., 2021 ).…”

“…In terms of explaining gender differences in mental health problems, it has been posited that pandemic control restrictions (e.g., online schooling, social distancing) impede adolescents girls' ability to rely on their social network for emotional support in stressful times (Magson et al., 2020 ). Furthermore, research has suggested that girls engage in higher levels of sedentary behavior and increased social media use/screen time and increased time sleeping compared to boys (Dunton et al., 2020 ; Ellis et al., 2020 ; Kang et al., 2020 ; Moore et al., 2020 ). All of these behaviors have been linked to an increase in mental health problems.…”