Last update:

   01-Aug-2022
 

Arch Hellen Med, 39(4),July-August 2022, 536-540

ORIGINAL PAPER

How important is exercising during COVID-19 lockdown?

E. Bebetsos, C. Konstantinidis, D. Konstantoulas, G. Bebetsos
School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece

OBJECTIVE To investigate the contribution of the theory of planned behavior to prediction of the attitudes towards, and intention of adult involvement in exercise/physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHOD The study sample consisted of 904 individuals, 417 men and 487 women, aged 18–70 years. The participants completed the Greek version of the Planned Behavior Theory questionnaire.

RESULTS The responses revealed differences in various domains concerning physical involvement between pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19 periods, specifically in (a) attitudes, (b) intention, (c) attitude strength, (d) self-identity, and (e) subjective norms.

CONCLUSIONS Physical activity is an area that can strengthen the psychological status of individuals. In contrast to the general trend in the COVID-19 era, our findings showed that people, even in the difficult situations representative of a pandemic crisis, tend to seek the best probable use of the possibilities available to them. One of these is exercise/physical activity, of which the study participants took full advantage during the lockdown period.

Key words: Attitude strength, Attitudes, Intention, Self-identity, Subjective norms.


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