ORIGINAL ARTICLE  EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MEDICINE 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2022 April;62(4):538-46

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.21.12228-5

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Physical activity patterns in adult population during the coronavirus pandemic: consideration of the role of resilience

Baian A. BAATTAIAH ¹, Mutasim D. ALHARBI ¹, Abdulfattah S. ALQAHTANI ², Monira I. ALDHAHI ³ ✉

¹ Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; ² Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; ³ Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to characterize patterns of physical activity (PA) and to examine whether resilience contributed to PA levels among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted during the COVID-19 quarantine period among adult population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) were used to assess the participants’ activity and resilience levels. The Kruskal-Wallis Test was used to examine differences in PA across resilience levels. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between resilience and PA levels. Data were reported as medians and interquartile ranges.
RESULTS: In total, 1859 individuals were included in the study (40% aged 26-35 years). The findings showed that 85% of the respondents engaged in PA and 15% were physically inactive. The majority (71%) participated in moderate-intensity PA. The median resilience score was 3.50 (0.85), indicating a medium level of resilience. A positive correlation was shown between the average resilience score and both walking (rs=0.01, P<0.001) and vigorous-intensity PA (rs=0.08, P=0.007). Data did not show a significant correlation between moderate-intensity PA and resilience score.
CONCLUSIONS: Greater emphasis on PA engagement after the period of quarantine is needed. Resilience may play an important role in buffering the deleterious impact of quarantine on PA.

KEY WORDS: Exercise; Rehabilitation; COVID-19