Physical activity is positively associated with college students' positive affect regardless of stressful life events during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The study was designed to determine associations between physical activity (PA) and affect before and during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and how change in PA predicted change in affect during this time. Before and during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, college students (n = 107) completed assessments of PA, positive and negative affect, sleep quality, food insecurity, and stressful life events (during stay-at-home order only). Total minutes of PA was positively associated with positive affect before ( B = 0.01, p < 0.01) and during ( B = 0.01, p = 0.01) COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Change in minutes of PA was positively associated with change in positive affect ( B = 0.01, p = 0.01). Associations between PA and positive affect were not moderated by stressful life events. PA only predicted negative affect before COVID-19 stay-at-home orders ( B = −0.003, p = 0.04). PA appears to enhance positive affect during a global pandemic. Findings have implications for PA as a tool for maintaining or enhancing mental health during a time of trauma and uncertainty.

Highlights

• •

  Physical activity and positive affect decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• •

  Negative affect increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• •

  Majority of participants experienced clinically meaningful levels of stressful life events during the pandemic.

• •

  Physical activity was associated with positive affect before and during the pandemic.

• •

  Physical activity was associated with negative affect before the pandemic only.