Mood of physically active and inactive adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective: To compare mood in a group of physically active adults (PA) trained remotely during a COVID-19 quarantine period and a group of physically inactive adults (IF). Methods: The Mood Rating Scale (EVEA) was applied to both groups, PA (n = 15), age 23±3.7 years of a cheerleading club and to a group IF (n = 15) age 27±2.4 years, on two occasions with a separation time of one month. Data were collected, in both periods, on mood, specifically anxiety, sadness, joy and anger. Mood was compared between groups in two periods and mood by group in each period. If the p-value (sig) is less than 0.05, the presence of statistically significant differences between measurements and groups is established. To calculate the effect size (TE) of the difference, Cohen's d-test was applied. Results: Both measures showed that PA presented less anxiety compared to IF (p = 0.00; ES 1.37; p = 0.00; ES 2.07), sadness (p = 0.06; ES 0.57; p = 0.00; ES 1.99) and anger (p = 0.00; ES 0.77; p = 0.00; ES 3.43), and greater joy (p = 0.01, ES 0.98; p = 0.00; ES 3,60) respectively. In addition, PA in the 2nd measurement decreased sadness (p = 0.25, ES 0.45) and anger (p = 0.05, ES 0.57) and increased joy (p = 0.05; ES 0.75), while IF increased anger (p = 0.00; ES 2.11) and decreased joy (p = 0.12, ES 1.07). Conclusion: PA presented better mood than IF in both measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, and decreased negative mood and increased positive mood, accounting for the positive effects of physical exercise on mood.