Changes in physical activity level of adolescents and its relationship with mental health during regular COVID‐19 prevention and control

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze the impact of regular prevention and control of COVID‐19 on the physical activity level (PAL) of adolescents and the relationship between PAL and mental health. METHODS: Using the convenience sampling method, two stages of the on‐site cross‐sectional investigation were conducted in 11 middle schools in Guiyang City in China. There were 1132 participants who completed the Physical Activity Questionnaire for old children (PAQ‐C) in October 2020, and 1503 participants who completed the PAQ‐C and Mental Health Inventory of Middle‐school students (MMHI‐60) in October 2021. All participants reported their demographic data. Descriptive, quantitative statistics were used for data analysis. One‐way ANOVA was used to explore associations between PAL and mental health. RESULTS: The results of statistical analysis showed a gradual yearly increase in the PAL of teenagers, and the PAL of male junior middle school students has a significant increase (p < .05); while that of adolescents in Grade 10 significantly decreased (p < .001). There is a statistically significant correlation between adolescents’ mental health (except for anxiety) and PAL (p < .05). The overall abnormal rate of mental health was 27.9%; The PAL and the total mean score of mental health had a negative correlation (p < .001). There was a significant difference between mental health scores and corresponding PAL (p < .001). Furthermore, there are statistically significant differences in scores of mental health factors corresponding to varying PAL among junior high school students and male students (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The regular epidemic prevention and control measures had significant adverse effects on the PAL of girls and high school adolescents, especially Grade 10 adolescents. Improving adolescents’ PAL can promote their mental health. Interventions based on PAL slightly lower than the level recommended in the physical activity guidelines can bring significant mental health effects.