Frontiers in Public Health (Dec 2022)

Chinese college students COVID-19 phobia and negative moods: Moderating effects of physical exercise behavior

  • Shan-shan Han,
  • Ya-hui Han,
  • Wen-xia Tong,
  • Guang-xu Wang,
  • You-zhi Ke,
  • Shu-qiao Meng,
  • Qiang Guo,
  • Zhong-lei Cui,
  • Jun-yong Zhang,
  • Yu-peng Ye,
  • Yao Zhang,
  • Ya-xing Li,
  • Bo Li

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1046326
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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ObjectiveWe investigated the effects of COVID-19 fear on negative moods among college students, and assessed the efficacy of physical exercise behavior as a moderator variable.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study. Students from three colleges and universities in Shangqiu City, Henan Province and Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province were enrolled in this study, which was performed during the COVID-19 pandemic using an online questionnaire. A total of 3,133 college students completed the questionnaire. Measurement tools included the COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S), Depression-Anxiety-Stress Self-Rating Scale (DASS), and the Physical Activity Behavior Scale (PARS-3).ResultsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the rates of depression, anxiety, and stressful negative moods among college students were 35.5, 65.5, and 10.95%, respectively; there was a positive correlation between COVID-19 fear and negative moods among college students (r = 0.479, p < 0.001), which was negatively correlated with physical exercise behavior (r = −0.4, p < 0.001); the regulating effects of physical exercise behavior were significant (ΔR2 = 0.04, p < 0.001).ConclusionThe rate of negative moods among college students is high, and the fear for COVID-19 is one of the key factors that lead to negative moods. Physical exercise can modulate the impact of COVID-19 fear among college students on negative moods. Studies should elucidate on mental health issues among different populations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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