Motivational Profile as a Predictor of Physical Activity Among US Adults During the Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Daily Diary Study

• DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2022-0474
• Publication Date: 2023-07-28T11:15:47Z
• Authors: Kristen N. Moore; Kayla Nuss; Bridgette Do; Shirlene D. Wang; Kaigang Li; Dan J. Graham; Genevieve F. Dunton; Jimikaye B. Courtney
• Keywords: Pandemic; 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak

This study used a daily diary approach to examine associations between day-level physical activity (PA) behavior, PA-specific motivational profile, and days since the COVID-19 national emergency declaration during early months (April-June 2020) of pandemic. A total 468 US adults (Mage = 34.8 y, 79% female) participated in 28-day smartphone-based assessing PA. baseline survey assessed PA motivation for using Behavioral Regulation Exercise Questionnaire. Multilevel linear regression models examined main effects interactions profile time (days March 13, 2020, declaration) on minutes. Latent analysis identified 4 distinct profiles among this sample: 1: high amotivation (n 100, 21%); 2: low controlled 55, 12%); 3: external regulation 47, 10%); 4: moderate autonomous 266, 57%). After controlling PA, there were significant (-0.21, P < .01). Profile 2 showed greater decreases minutes over than 1 (b -0.29, Profiles 3 did not indicate compared with 0.14, .31 b -0.16, .05, respectively). Contrary previous research, individuals lower or demonstrated largest time, whereas higher smaller time. These findings suggest that may have provided short-term protection against declines observed