Negative mood state in Kermanshah population during COVID-19 quarantine linked to low physical activity levels: a cross-sectional online survey study.

One of the most significant consequences of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is the anxiety and stress it causes among the general population, which can be reduced by engaging in regular physical activity. The aim of this study was to estimate the levels of physical activity and mood state during the COVID-19 quarantine among the Kermanshah population. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 2471 subjects (1256 males and 1215 females) were selected in the population of Kermanshah in the west of Iran, using the convenience sampling method. Physical activity levels were assessed using the physical activity (PA) questionnaire short form (IPAQ-SF), and mood state was measured by the abbreviated form of the Iranian version of the standard POMS questionnaire (Bill Morgan 1979). Participants completed the online questionnaire between March 28th and May 20th, 2020. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, and percentage), and deductive (Chi-square and Spearman's correlation) were used for data analysis. our study found that the majority of participants reported decreased PA levels during the quarantine period. Specifically, 71.7% reported a decrease in moderate-intensity physical activity, 80.5% reported a decrease in high-intensity PA, and 71.3% reported a decrease in the total volume of PA. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the number of sessions (P=0.001), intensity (P=0.001), and duration of exercise (P=0.001) before and during the coronavirus. There was a significant positive relationship between low (r=0.93; P=0.001) and high (r=0.673; P=0.034) levels of PA and negative mood state. Additionally, there was a positive relationship between moderate PA level (r=0.82; P=0.001) and a positive mood states. The study suggests that the current quarantine has negatively affected the mood states of the participants. Overall, the study recommends regular PA to prevent COVID-19 while adhering to health and safety protocols.

An investigation into the associations between psychological skills, anaerobic fitness, and aerobic fitness in elite Iranian taekwondo athletes.

This study investigated the relationship between psychological skills and fitness levels among elite taekwondo athletes. A total of ten Iranian male elite taekwondo athletes (mean age of 20.6±2 years, BMI 18.78±0.62 kg/m2, and fat percentage of 8.87±1.46%) participated in the study. The Sports Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire, Sports Success Scale, Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire, and Mindfulness Inventory for Sport were used to assess psychological factors. The Wingate test was used to determine anaerobic power, and the Bruce test to determine aerobic fitness. Descriptive statistics and Spearman rank correlation coefficients were utilised to examine any relationships between subscales. Statistically significant correlations were recorded between the evaluation of feelings (EI scale) and VO2peak (ml/kg/min) (r = -0.70, p = 0.0235) and between social skills (EI scale) and relative peak power (W/kg) (r = 0.84, p = 0.0026). Also, between optimism (EI scale) and VO2peak (ml/kg/min) (r = -0.70, p = 0.0252) and between optimism (EI scale) and HR-MAX (r = -0.75, p = 0.0123); and, finally, between control (mental toughness scale) and relative peak power (W/kg) (r = 0.67, p = 0.0360). These findings demonstrate relationships between psychological factors and the advantages of good anaerobic and aerobic capabilities. Finally, the study also demonstrated that elite taekwondo athletes have high mental performance abilities that are interrelated with anaerobic and aerobic performance.

Different Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Exercise Indexes and Mood States Based on Sport Types, Exercise Dependency and Individual Characteristics.

Exercise indexes have been affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its related restrictions among athletes. In the present study, we investigated the exercise frequency and intensity before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and also current exercise dependency and mood state among non-contact individual, contact individual, and team sports athletes. A total of 1353 athletes from non-contact individual sports athletes (NCISA), contact individual sports athletes (CISA) and team sport athletes (TSA) participated; 45.4% of them were females that completed a series of self-rating questionnaires covering sociodemographic information, former and current exercise patterns, exercise dependency and mood states. NCISA had less exercise frequency than CISA, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and NCISA had less exercise frequency than TSA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding exercise intensity, CISA had higher scores than NCISA and TSA before the COVID-19 pandemic, and CISA had more exercise intensity than TSA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frequency and intensity were reduced from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic in the three groups, except for TSA intensity. In addition, positive and negative mood states were correlated with exercise dependency. CISA were more discouraged and vigorous than NCISA and TSA, respectively. For NCISA, CISA, and TSA, ordinal regressions separately showed that adherence to quarantine and exercise dependency were better predictors of exercise indexes. Finally, exercise dependency subscales were different among sports, but it was not in exercise dependency itself. Although the decrease in exercise indexes was noticeable, there was no consistent pattern of change in exercise behavior in all sports. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, negative moods were predominant among all athletes. The results discussed are based on exercise nonparticipating, sport type, and affect regulation hypothesis.

No Evidence of Systematic Change of Physical Activity Patterns Before and During the Covid-19 Pandemic and Related Mood States Among Iranian Adults Attending Team Sports Activities.

Objective: To cope with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic health authorities released social restrictions. Such social restrictions impacted on the people's possibilities to move deliberately in a public space and to gather with other people. In the present study, we investigated the impact of COVID-19-related restrictions ("confinement") on physical activity (PA) patterns before and during the confinement among team sports participants. Such PA patterns were further related to current mood states, and possible sex differences were also explored. Methods: A total of 476 adults exercising team sport (football, futsal, volleyball, handball, and basketball; mean age: 24.66 years; 48.1% females) completed a series of self-rating questionnaires covering sociodemographic information, former and current PA patterns, and current mood states. Results: Compared with the period before the confinement, PA intensity decreased, but PA frequency increased during the confinement. Past, current, and changes in physical activity patterns were unrelated to participants' mood states. Sex differences in mood were spurious. Sex differences in physical activity patterns were modest, with male participants reporting a higher physical activity intensity during the confinement. Conclusions: The present pattern of results suggests that the COVID-19-related confinement did not impact in a uniform fashion on PA patterns of adults attending team sports. Furthermore, mood states were unrelated to current physical activity patterns. Given the complex psychosocial situation of COVID-19-related confinement, it appeared very unlikely that sole physical activity patterns could counterbalance possible impaired states of mood and behavior.