The effect of exercise and affect regulation skills on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey.
Psychiatry Res
; 312: 114559, 2022 06.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1796199
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
COVID-19-related confinements pose a threat to mental health. We investigated prevalence rates of symptoms of depression, generalized anxiety and insomnia in German adults. Furthermore, we explored associations of exercise behavior with disorder-specific symptoms and assessed whether specific affect regulation skills enhance the effect of exercise on symptom alleviation.METHODS:
Cross-sectional survey-based data collected during the first lockdown is presented 4268 adults completed questionnaires on mental health, exercise behavior and Covid-related lifestyle factors. Primary outcome was depression (PHQ-9), secondary outcomes generalized anxiety (PHQ-D) and sleep quality (PSQI). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine the association of exercise behavior with the outcomes.RESULTS:
Analyses resulted in elevated symptoms of psychological distress (probable cases of depressive disorder 31.2%, anxiety disorder 7.5%, sleeping disorder 43.0%). A change towards less exercise during the lockdown was significantly associated with higher levels of depression (t=5.269; ß=0.077, p<.001), anxiety (t=3.397; ß=0.055, p<.001) and insomnia (t=3.466; ß=0.058; p<.001). Physical activity (PA)-related affect regulation enhanced the effect of exercise on mental health.CONCLUSION:
Results suggest a demand for measures which promote the maintenance of exercise during a pandemic and improve PA-related affect regulation to optimize effects of exercise on mental health.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
/
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Psychiatry Res
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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