Relationships among behavioural regulations, physical activity, and mental health pre- and during COVID–19 UK lockdown

A nationwide survey was conducted during the first UK lockdown to further understanding of the degree to which motives for exercise were associated with physical activity (PA) behaviours and, in turn, how PA behaviours were associated with mental health. A cross-sectional design was employed and data were collected by use of a one-off online survey (<i>N</i> = 392; 18–85 years; <i>M</i>_BMI=25.48; <i>SD</i>_BMI= 5.05; 314 women). Exercise motives, PA, and mental health were measured by use of the Behavioural Regulations in Exercise Questionnaire-3, Brunel Lifestyle Physical Activity Questionnaire, and General Health Quesionnaire-12, respectively. Participants were also asked to specify their average step count per day, if they used a mobile device for this purpose (<i>n</i> = 190). Analyses comprised hierarchical regressions and partial correlations. Results indicated that behavioural regulations were more strongly associated with planned PA pre-lockdown, compared to during lockdown. There were no differences observed in explained variance between pre- and during lockdown for unplanned PA and steps per day. Planned and unplanned PA were significant explanatory variables for mental health both pre- and during lockdown, but sedentary behaviour was not. Partial correlations, with BMI and age partialled out, showed that steps per day were not correlated with mental health either pre- or during lockdown. The range of variables used to explain planned and unplanned PA and mental health suggest that people’s motives to exercise were tempered by lockdown. For those who routinely measured their steps per day, the step count was unrelated to their mental health scores both pre- and during lockdown. It appears that engagement in regular PA confers some minor benefits for mental health.<br>

本研究在英国首轮全国疫情封锁期间开展了一项全国性调查，旨在深入阐释运动动机与身体活动（physical activity, PA）行为的关联强度，进而揭示身体活动行为与心理健康的内在关联。本研究采用横断面研究设计，通过一次性线上调查问卷收集数据，有效样本量N=392，年龄跨度18~85岁，BMI均值为25.48，标准差为5.05，其中女性受试者314名。运动动机、身体活动与心理健康水平分别通过《运动行为调节问卷-3》（Behavioural Regulations in Exercise Questionnaire-3）、《布鲁内尔生活方式身体活动问卷》（Brunel Lifestyle Physical Activity Questionnaire）以及《一般健康问卷-12》（General Health Questionnaire-12）进行评估。受试者同时被问及，若使用移动设备追踪每日平均步数，则需上报具体数值，有效作答子样本n=190。本研究采用层级回归与偏相关分析开展统计检验。结果显示，相较于封锁期间，封锁前的行为调节与计划性身体活动的关联强度更高。对于非计划性身体活动与每日步数，封锁前后的解释方差未发现显著差异。无论封锁前后，计划性与非计划性身体活动均为心理健康的显著预测变量，但久坐行为则无此预测效应。在控制BMI与年龄的偏相关分析中，无论封锁前后，每日步数与心理健康得分均无显著相关性。本研究用于解释计划性/非计划性身体活动及心理健康的变量范围表明，民众的运动动机因疫情封锁政策而发生调整。对于日常使用移动设备追踪每日步数的群体而言，无论封锁前后，其每日步数与心理健康得分均无关联。综上，规律参与身体活动对心理健康具有一定的轻度益处。