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. 2021 Feb 10;18(4):1707.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18041707.

Being Active during the Lockdown: The Recovery Potential of Physical Activity for Well-Being

Clément Ginoux  1 , Sandrine Isoard-Gautheur  1 , Claudia Teran-Escobar  1   2 , Cyril Forestier  1   3 , Aïna Chalabaev  1 , Anna Clavel  1 , Philippe Sarrazin  1
Affiliations

Being Active during the Lockdown: The Recovery Potential of Physical Activity for Well-Being

Clément Ginoux et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

To examine the indirect relationships between physical activity, and well-being (i.e., need satisfaction, subjective vitality, and stress) of individuals, through recovery experiences (i.e., detachment from lockdown, relaxation, mastery, and control over leisure time) during the spring 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.

Methods: 405 participants answered an online survey including questions on physical activity, recovery experiences, subjective vitality, perceived stress, and basic psychological needs satisfaction. Structural equation modeling tested a full-mediated model in which physical activity predicted recovery experience, which in turn predicted well-being.

Results: Physical activity was positively related to a latent variable representing recovery experiences, which in turn was positively related to a latent variable representing well-being.

Conclusions: Physical activity carried out regularly during the COVID-19 lockdown positively predicted well-being through recovery experiences. The study results highlight the importance of maintaining or increasing physical activity during periods when recovery experiences and well-being may be threatened.

Keywords: COVID-19 lockdown; need satisfaction; perceived stress; physical activity; recovery; subjective vitality; well-being.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Structural equation modeling of the relations between physical activity, recovery experiences, and general well-being for all participants. Note. Completely standardized maximum likelihood parameter estimates. Solid lines indicate significant paths. Non-significant paths are not displayed. *** p < 0.001. ** p < 0.01. * p < 0.05.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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