Network analysis of physical activity and depressive and affective symptoms during COVID-19 home confinement.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to analyze the network structure of physical activity, frequency, depressive, and affective symptoms in people under home isolation due to COVID-19. METHOD: A longitudinal study was conducted in two phases (beginning (March 19, 2020) and end of home confinement (April 8, 2020)). The sample consisted of 579 participants from Spain (250 men and 329 women) aged 16 to 92 years (overall sample: M = 47.06, SD = 14.52). A network analysis was performed. RESULTS: Four clusters emerged (PA, depressive symptoms, positive affect, and negative affect). A higher frequency of physical activity was related to better-sustained attention, increased alertness, and enthusiasm. In addition, feelings of guilt and shame were mitigated, and confinement distress and irritability were reduced. Physical activity also mitigated fatigue in women, whereas feelings of unhappiness were reduced in men. CONCLUSION: Physical activity seems to be an effective option for mitigating the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health policymakers should develop programs to promote physical activity in order to be able to cope with confinement or similar scenarios in the future.

Factors Influencing the Likelihood of Alcohol and Tobacco Use in Adolescent Athletes: Type of Sport, Age, and Action Tendencies in Sport.

This article proposes a new approach to understand substance use among adolescent athletes. Thus, this article describes an investigation of the likelihood of alcohol and tobacco use in adolescent athletes considering the type of sport, age, gender, and their action tendencies. A total of 552 athletes with an age range of 12-16 years were engaged in medium-high-contact sports (n = 291) and non-contact sports (n = 261). They completed the Children's Action Tendency Scale, the Sport Children's Action Tendency Scale, and the Personal and Social Responsibility Questionnaire. The results showed that 16-year-old athletes were the most likely to drink alcohol and to smoke tobacco (p < 0.001). Likewise, it was found that practicing a medium-high-contact sport was a risk factor for alcohol and tobacco use (p < 0.01). The more aggressive athletes were more likely to have smoked tobacco during the last month (p = 0.019) and also to drink more alcohol that the less aggressive ones (p < 0.001). Finally, the athletes who showed more submissiveness were less likely to have drunk alcohol in the last year and the last month (p < 0.001). These findings show the predictive value of new factors associated with alcohol and tobacco use among adolescent athletes. Preventive measures should be targeted, since a new link between the action tendencies in sport and substance use has been found.

Impact of Teachers' Autonomy Support in Students' Basic Psychological Needs, Intrinsic Motivation and Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity.

The students' active participation in physical education does not always guarantee the fulfilment of the international guidelines on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The goal of the study was to examine the effects of the teacher autonomy support on the MVPA, basic psychological needs, and intrinsic motivation of primary education students. A three-phase, crossed research design was used in four groups of primary education (grades three, four, five, and six). Eighty-three students (40 boys; 43 girls) completed three physical education sessions with three levels of teacher autonomy support: low, intermediate, and high. They wore WGT3x accelerometers and answered a questionnaire. Results showed significant differences in MVPA, autonomy, competence, and intrinsic motivation (p < 0.001) between sessions one (controlling), two (intermediate-supportive autonomy), and three (full-supportive autonomy). In session three, the students' MVPA increased to 73.70%. In conclusion, teacher's autonomy-supportive environment can be modified to increase the students' intrinsic motivation, basic physiological needs, and MVPA to reach the minimum international standards.

A Longitudinal Examination of Withholding All or Part of School Recess on Children's Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior: Evidence from a Natural Experiment.

School recess is a daily opportunity for school-age students to be physically active. However, in some territories teachers often use recess for other purposes (e.g., children's poor classroom behavior might be punished with reduced time for recess). This study aimed to examine the impact of such practices on children's physical activity (PA) and the relationships between PA, gender, body mass index (BMI), and academic achievement. Forty-six first-grade students from two natural classrooms wore an accelerometer over the course of 6 weeks to measure their metabolic equivalent of task (METs) and sedentary behavior during school recess. Gender, age, BMI, the classroom to which students belonged, and academic achievement were also analyzed in two Generalized Estimating Equations models. Results revealed that boys achieved more METs and spent less time participating in sedentary behavior than girls during recess. Children within a healthy weight range of BMI yielded more METs than underweight and overweight/obese children. Academic achievement was positively associated with the METS and negatively with the sedentary behavior. Finally, withholding all or part of school recess significantly reduced children's PA and extended their sedentary behavior. The literature indicates that school recess plays an important role in promoting numerous children's health outcomes. Therefore, students should not be excluded from participation in all or part of recess.

Self-made material in physical education: Teacher perceptions of the use of an emerging pedagogical model before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused drastic changes in education, which had to adapt to changing scenarios (online, face-to-face, hybrid teaching). Within physical education (PE), strategies such as 'do not use or share equipment' were proposed to avoid infections. These strategies fit with an emerging pedagogical model called the Self-made Material Model (SMM), which involves students creating their own PE equipment. The objectives of the present study were: (a) to analyse PE teachers' beliefs about the use of self-made material in their classes, (b) to evaluate teachers' perceptions of the impact of the use of self-made material in PE lessons during the pandemic and (c) to examine gender/age differences. A quantitative, snowball research design was followed. The Self-made Material Questionnaire ( Méndez-Giménez and Fernández-Río, 2011) comprising two scales (41 items) was adapted: Teachers' beliefs about the use of self-made material scale and Teachers' perceptions of the impact of self-made material usage during the pandemic scale. In total, 1093 in-service teachers (443 women, 40.5%; M = 41.39, SD = 9.54) from 13 Ibero-American countries participated. Descriptive statistics were calculated, Student's T test was conducted for comparisons by gender and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was run for comparisons by age ranges. Overall, the scores were high, emphasising the potential to promote recycling and students' creativity and respect for the material. Women scored higher in items such as promoting interdisciplinarity, equality, attention to disability and education in values. In total, 833 (76.21%) teachers used self-made material during the pandemic and reported high levels of satisfaction, expectations of use, usefulness and profitability. No gender differences were found. In the COVID-19 era, the SMM is playing a relevant role as a meaningful framework and a helpful teaching methodology in different educational scenarios.

Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Adolescents after the COVID-19 Lockdown and One Year Afterward.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the changes in physical activity and physical fitness between the beginning of the first academic year after a confinement (November 2020) and the beginning of the second academic year after a confinement ("new normality": November 2021) in a cohort of adolescents. Moreover, the evolution of physical fitness after controlling for physical activity was examined. A total of 687 students (M = 15.35, SD = 1.677) from a high school located in a rural town in northern Spain gave information on their physical activity (PA) levels in two different periods. Linear mixed models were used to examine these changes. The results indicated that vigorous physical activity (VPA) and the metabolic equivalent of task (MET) significantly increased between the two periods. A growth tendency of several components of fitness (upper body power, strength endurance, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, and eye-hand coordination) was also observed. Finally, the results indicated that belonging to a sports club and getting involved in more VPA better explained the development in cardiovascular and muscle fitness between the two time points. Thus, the results of this study highlighted the relevance of membership in a sports club and vigorous PA in order to mitigate the potential negative effect of social distancing measures on physical fitness.

Physical Activity and Prevention of Depressive Symptoms in the Spanish Population during Confinement due to COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: In March 2020, the Spanish government established an official lockdown across the country in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and confined the population to their homes, restricting their mobility. The objectives of the study are twofold: a) to examine dose-response relationships between physical activity (PA) components (volume, intensity, frequency, duration) and depressive symptoms of the population during confinement, and b) to identify the optimal levels of PA to mitigate notable depressive symptoms (NDS). METHODS: 4,811 (2,952 women) Spanish citizens, age range 16-92 years, completed an online questionnaire (snowball sampling) to measure their levels of depressive symptoms, PA, and various anthropometric and sociometric variables. Volume (METs-min/week), frequency (days/week), and duration (hours) were examined using logistic regressions with restricted cubic splines. RESULTS: The PA components were inversely associated with NDS. Performing at least 477 METs-min/week was associated with a 33% decrease in probability of NDS, and reaching 3,000 METs-min/week was associated with the lowest risk of NDS (47%). As for frequency, with 10 times/week the probability of NDS was 56% lower. At 10 hours of weekly practice, the probability of NDS was 39% lower. CONCLUSIONS: A range and optimal amount of PA is suggested to reduce the appearance of SDN during confinement.

A longitudinal study on depressive symptoms and physical activity during the Spanish lockdown.

Background/Objective: The aim was to evaluate the evolution of depressive symptoms and to explore the influence of physical activity (PA) practice during the home confinement due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Spain. Method: Information was collected from 595 confined participants who reported personal and contextual information, depressive symptoms and PA levels at four time points. Results: The changes in depressive symptoms were analyzed using a linear mixed model with cubic splines. Results showed a significant increase, with a significant rise between T1 and T2 (OR = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.83-3.10). It continued growing until T4 (OR = 2.93, 95% CI = 1.97-4.38). A negative relationship was observed between the increase in depressive symptoms and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels, with a significant slope up to 4 hours of MVPA per week (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.29-0.90) that tended to increase until 16 hours per week of MVPA (OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.20-0.87). Conclusions: Results from a partition model showed that moderate intensity of PA could be enough to prevent an increase of depressive symptoms during home isolation.

Antecedentes/Objetivo: El objetivo fue evaluar la evolución de los síntomas depresivos y explorar la influencia de la práctica de actividad física (AF) durante la fase de confinamiento domiciliario de la población española como consecuencia de la enfermedad del coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Método: Participaron 595 personas confinadas que informaron de su situación personal, los síntomas depresivos y la AF en cuatro momentos de medida. Resultados: Los cambios en los síntomas depresivos analizados con splines cúbicos a partir de modelos lineales mixtos, mostraron un incremento significativo, con una subida importante entre el T1 y el T2 (OR = 2,38, 95% CI = 1,83-3,10), para luego seguir incrementándose de manera más lenta hasta el T4 (OR = 2,93, 95% CI = 1,97-4,38). Se observó una relación inversa entre el incremento de los síntomas depresivos y los niveles de actividad física moderada-vigorosa (AFMV) semanal, con una pendiente importante hasta las cuatro horas de AFMV a la semana (OR = 0,51, 95% CI = 0,29-0,90) que tiende a disminuir hasta las 16 horas/semana AFMV (OR = 0,41, 95% CI = 0,20-0,87). Conclusiones: Se probó un modelo de partición que mostró que la AF de intensidad moderada podría ser suficiente para prevenir un incremento de los síntomas depresivos en situación de confinamiento.

Resilience and physical activity in people under home isolation due to COVID-19: A preliminary evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The recent shelter-in-place order issued by the Spanish government (due to the outbreak of the COVID-19) forced the Spanish population to self-isolate at home. The psychological and social effects of this new situation are unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the impact of such scenario on citizens' resilience, as well as the connections between resilience, physical activity (PA), gender, weight and body mass index (BMI) before and after confinement, and COVID-19-related information. METHODS: A total of 1795 people answered an online questionnaire conducted on March 21st, , 2020, seven days after the mandatory shelter-in-place health order was issued. RESULTS: Results showed that individuals who regularly engaged in Vigorous PA during the first week of confinement reported higher resilience in terms of higher locus of control, higher self-efficacy, and higher optimism. Moreover, inter-personal resilience differences were observed based on gender, age groups, BMI, weight, and people living with dependent persons or under health risk conditions. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, these findings are the first quantitative evidence pointing towards a link between engagement in Vigorous PA and resilience within the COVID-19 restrictions in Spain. These findings may have important implications for general population during the course of this pandemic, or future ones.

COVID-19, Psychological Well-being and Physical Activity Levels in Older Adults During the Nationwide Lockdown in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has forced nationwide lockdowns in many countries. As a result, most of the Spanish population had to self-isolate at home. The physical and psychological consequences of this unexpected scenario could be particularly worrisome for people older than 60 years. This study is aimed to examine the psychological well-being of older adults during the home isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to investigate whether meeting the World Health Organization's global recommendations on physical activity (PA) for health is associated with their resilience, affect, and depressive symptoms. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 483 citizens whose ages ranged from 60 to 92 years (overall sample: M = 65.49, SD = 5.14) were recruited via a snowball sampling strategy to answer to an online questionnaire. MEASUREMENTS: The four instruments used were The Connor-Davidson CD-RISC resilience scale, The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the six-item self-report scale of Depressive Symptoms, and The international Physical Activity Questionnaire. RESULTS: Results showed that older adults who regularly engaged in vigorous (VPA) and moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during the quarantine reported higher scores in resilience (Locus, Self-efficacy, and Optimism), positive affect, and lower in depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: These finding are the first quantitative evidence pointing toward a link between engagement in VPA and/or MVPA and resilience, positive affect, and depressive symptoms within the COVID-19 restrictions in Spain. Acknowledging these associations may be important in developing health promotion programs for older people during the remaining period of confinement or future ones.

Weight changes during the COVID-19 home confinement. Effects on psychosocial variables.

INTRODUCTION: The goal was to assess individuals' weight changes and their connections with depressive symptoms, optimism and physical activity. METHOD: 4379 Spanish citizens, 16-84 years, participated. RESULTS: Most participants declared no weight changes. Males, young and obese individuals had greater weight variability. Depressive symptoms were linked to larger weight changes. Optimism and MVPA followed a descending pattern from ≥-3 kg. MVPA minutes/week and fulfilling physical activity recommendations were inversely associated to weight changes. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 confinement impacted individuals' weight, expanding depreobesity to include weight loss. Optimism and physical activity seemed to be "protective elements".

A self-determination approach to the understanding of the impact of physical activity on depressive symptoms.

The purpose was to test a new motivational sequence. It was hypothesized that more autonomous forms of motivation would predict the intensity of physical activity (PA), which in turn, would predict depressive symptoms. In order to evaluate self-determined motivation, the Self-Determination Index (SDI) was used. Because the reasons that can lead a person to engage in walking, moderate PA, or vigorous PA may be different, 3 independent self-determination indexes were measured (SDIWalking, SDIModerate, and SDIVigorous). It was also measured the metabolic equivalent of task values (METs) for walking, moderate, and vigorous PA, as well as the depressive symptoms. The sample consisted of 357 college students whose ages ranged from 18 to 29 years. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized model. The indices of fit showed that the revised model fits the data reasonably well: S-Bχ2(11)  = 14.83, p = .190; χ2 /df = 1.35; *comparative fit index = .99; *root mean square error of approximation = .03, 90% CI [.000, .068]; standardised root mean square residual = .03. It was found that vigorous PA is the only intensity that predicts depressive symptoms. In other words, SDIV-predicted vigorous PA (measured as METS V), which subsequently predicted less depressive symptoms (SDIV â†’ METS V â†’ Depressive symptoms). Further research should investigate the effects of vigorous PA on depressive symptoms.