Exercise-related self-perception, physical activity and intention to in-person and virtual activities among adolescent girls

Abstract

This study aimed (1) to describe the experience of adolescents and adults using FitSpirit asynchronous virtual (V) exercise videos that target adolescent girls, (2) to compare physical activity (PA) levels and exercise-related self-perception variables among groups (2019 in-person [IP], 2021 IP, and 2021 V) of adolescent girls, and (3) to assess the association between the adolescents’ PA levels and their exercise-related self-perception in response to IP (pre-pandemic and during pandemic) and V (during pandemic) FitSpirit exercise modes. Regarding the first aim, 28 adolescent girls ([15.5 ​± ​0.8] years old) and 29 adult women ([33.0 ​± ​10.3] years old) experienced the V exercise mode. For the second and third aims, 376 girls ([15.3 ​± ​1.7] years old) participated IP in 2019 (pre-pandemic), 339 girls ([14.9 ​± ​1.6] years old) participated IP in 2021 (during the pandemic), and 27 girls ([15.5 ​± ​0.8] years old) watched V FitSpirit exercise videos in 2021 (during the pandemic). Data was collected using online questionnaires. Chi-square (χ²) and Pearson tests were performed. Adults (76%) had a significantly higher intention to use FitSpirit exercise videos again than adolescents (14%) (p ​< ​0.001). For IP exercise mode, we observed significant correlations between PA levels and being proud (r ​= ​0.08, p ​= ​0.046), feeling good (r ​= ​0.14, p ​< ​0.001), and being disappointed (r ​= ​−0.12, p ​< ​0.001). For the V exercise mode, there were no significant correlations. In conclusion, better exercise-related self-perception was only correlated to PA levels when IP training was offered. These first findings support IP training for adolescent girls when the pandemic situation allows it.

Keywords

FitSpirit / Health promotion / Physical activity

References

[[1]] World health organization. Rolling Updates on Coronavirus Disease ( COVID-19). World Health Organization ( 2020). Accessed August 23, 2023.

[[2]] 2.P.I. Lee, Y.L. Hu, P.Y. Chen, Y.C. Huang, P.R. Hsueh. Are children less susceptible to COVID-19?. J Microbiol Immunol Infect, 53 (3) ( 2020), pp. 371-372, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2020.02.011

[[3]] G. Wang, Y. Zhang, J. Zhao, J. Zhang, F. Jiang. Mitigate the effects of home confinement on children during the COVID-19 outbreak. Lancet, 395 (10228) ( 2020), pp. 945-947, DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30547-X

[[4]] J.R. Whitehead. A study of children's physical self-perceptions using an adapted physical self-perception profile questionnaire. Pediatr Exerc Sci, 7 (2) ( 1995), pp. 132-151, DOI: 10.1123/pes.7.2.132

[[5]] H.A. Klein, K. O'bryant, H.R. Hopkins. Recalled parental authority style and self-perception in college men and women. J Genet Psychol, 157 (1) ( 1996), pp. 5-17, DOI: 10.1080/00221325.1996.9914842

[[6]] F.G. Stacey, E.L. James, K. Chapman, D.R. Lubans.Social cognitive theory mediators of physical activity in a lifestyle program for cancer survivors and carers: findings from the ENRICH randomized controlled trial. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Activ, 13 ( 2016), p. 49, DOI: 10.1186/s12966-016-0372-z

[[7]] E.A. Awick, S.M. Phillips, G.R. Lloyd, E. McAuley. Physical activity, self-efficacy and self-esteem in breast cancer survivors: a panel model. Psycho Oncol, 26 (10) ( 2017), pp. 1625-1631, DOI: 10.1002/pon.4180

[[8]] O.K. Ensrud-Skraastad,M. Haga. Associations between motor competence, physical self-perception and autonomous motivation for physical activity in children. Sports, 8 (9) ( 2020), p. 120, DOI: 10.3390/sports8090120

[[9]] M.C. Fastame. Life satisfaction in late adult span: the contribution of family relationships, health self-perception and physical activity. Aging Clin Exp Res, 33 (6) ( 2021), pp. 1693-1698, DOI: 10.1007/s40520-020-01658-1

[[10]] L. Raudsepp, R. Liblik, A. Hannus. Children's and adolescents' physical self-perceptions as related to moderate to vigorous physical activity and physical fitness. Pediatr Exerc Sci, 14 (1) ( 2002), pp. 97-106, DOI: 10.1123/pes.14.1.97

[[11]] M. Baceviciene, R. Jankauskiene, A. Emeljanovas.Self-perception of physical activity and fitness is related to lower psychosomatic health symptoms in adolescents with unhealthy lifestyles. BMC Publ Health, 19 (1) ( 2019), p. 980, DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-7311-2

[[12]] G. Rollans, M. de la Chenelière. Study of the Canadian K to 12 Educational Book Publishing Sector. desLibris ( 2010)

[[13]] S.A. Moore, G. Faulkner, R.E. Rhodes, et al.. Impact of the COVID-19 virus outbreak on movement and play behaviours of Canadian children and youth: a national survey. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Activ, 17 (1) ( 2020), p. 85, DOI: 10.1186/s12966-020-00987-8

[[14]] A. Pietrobelli, L. Pecoraro, A. Ferruzzi, et al.. Effects of COVID-19 lockdown on lifestyle behaviors in children with obesity living in Verona, Italy: a longitudinal study. Obesity, 28 (8) ( 2020), pp. 1382-1385, DOI: 10.1002/oby.22861

[[15]] N. Zenic, R. Taiar, B. Gilic, et al.. Levels and changes of physical activity in adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: contextualizing urban vs. rural living environment. Appl Sci, 10 (11) ( 2020), p. 3997, DOI: 10.3390/app10113997

[[16]] J. Godefroy. Recommending physical activity during the COVID-19 health crisis. Fitness influencers on Instagram. Front Sports Act Living, 2 ( 2020), Article 589813, DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2020.589813

[[17]] International Health,Racquet and Sportsclub Association. IHRSA media report:health and fitness consumer data & industry trends before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int Health, Racquet Sportsclub Assoc ( 2021). Accessed January 15, 2023.

[[18]] FitSpirit.Annual Report 2018-2019: A Year of Action. FitSpirit ( 2019). Accessed December 1, 2023.

[[19]] J.A. Laroche, S. Girard, J. Lemoyne. Tracing adolescent girls' motivation longitudinally: from FitClub participation to leisure-time physical activity. Percept Mot Skills, 126 (5) ( 2019), pp. 986-1005, DOI: 10.1177/0031512519864194

[[20]] K. Paiement, V. Drapeau, J.A. Gilbert, et al.. Changes in lifestyle habits among adolescent girls after FitSpirit participation. Int J Environ Res Publ Health, 17 (12) ( 2020), p. 4388, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17124388

[[21]] R.F. Guimarães, J.A. Gilbert, J. Lemoyne, M.E. Mathieu. Better health indicators of FitSpirit participants meeting 24-h movement guidelines for Canadian children and youth. Health Promot Int, 36 (3) ( 2021), pp. 836-845, DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daaa102

[[22]] FitSpirit. FitSpirit workouts. FitSpirit (2022). Accessed 4 March 2022.

[[23]] Statistics Canada. Statistics Canada (Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). 2023). Accessed 2 March 2023.

[[24]] J. Cohen. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. Routledge ( 2013)

[[25]] D.R. Lubans, P.J. Morgan, A. McCormack. Adolescents and school sport: the relationship between beliefs, social support and physical self-perception. Phys Educ Sport Pedagog, 16 (3) ( 2011), pp. 237-250, DOI: 10.1080/17408989.2010.532784

[[26]] S.J. Biddle, S.H. Whitehead, T.M. O'Donovan, M.E. Nevill. Correlates of participation in physical activity for adolescent girls: a systematic review of recent literature. JPAH, 2 (4) ( 2005), pp. 423-434, DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2.4.423

[[27]] K. Van Der Horst, M.J. Paw, J.W. Twisk, W. Van Mechelen. A brief review on correlates of physical activity and sedentariness in youth. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 39 (8) ( 2007), pp. 1241-1250, DOI: 10.1249/mss.0b013e318059bf35

[[28]] A.L. Smith. Perceptions of peer relationships and physical activity participation in early adolescence. JSEP, 21 (4) ( 1999), pp. 329-350, DOI: 10.1123/jsep.21.4.329

[[29]] R. Li, S. Bunke, E. Psouni. Attachment relationships and physical activity in adolescents: the mediation role of physical self-concept. Psychol Sport Exerc, 22 ( 2016), pp. 160-169, DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2015.07.003

[[30]] A.L. Smith, S. Biddle. Youth physical activity and sedentary behavior: challenges and solutions. Hum Kinet ( 2008)

[[31]] C.P. Stuntz, M.R. Weiss. Achievement goal orientations and motivational outcomes in youth sport: the role of social orientations. Psychol Sport Exerc, 10 (2) ( 2009), pp. 255-262, DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2008.09.001

[[32]] A.E. Cox, S. Ullrich-French. The motivational relevance of peer and teacher relationship profiles in physical education. Psychol Sport Exerc, 11 (5) ( 2010), pp. 337-344, DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2010.04.001

[[33]] A. Fitzgerald, N. Fitzgerald,C. Aherne. Do peers matter? A review of peer and/or friends' influence on physical activity among American adolescents. J Adolesc, 35 (4) ( 2012), pp. 941-958, DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2012.01.002

[[34]] H. Dor-Haim, S. Katzburg, P. Revach, H. Levine, S. Barak.The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on physical activity and weight gain among active adult population in Israel: a cross-sectional study. BMC Publ Health, 21 (1) ( 2021), p. 1521, DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11523-z

[[35]] B. Constandt, E. Thibaut, V. De Bosscher, J. Scheerder, M. Ricour, A. Willem.Exercising in times of lockdown: an analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on levels and patterns of exercise among adults in Belgium. Int J Environ Res Publ Health, 17 (11) ( 2020), p. 4144, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17114144

[[36]] S.C.E. Schmidt, B. Anedda, A. Burchartz, et al.. Physical activity and screen time of children and adolescents before and during the COVID-19 lockdown in Germany: a natural experiment. Sci Rep, 10 (1) ( 2020), Article 21780, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78438-4

[[37]] M.D. Guerrero, L.M. Vanderloo, R.E. Rhodes, G. Faulkner, S.A. Moore, M.S. Tremblay. Canadian children's and youth's adherence to the 24-h movement guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic: a decision tree analysis. J Sport Health Sci, 9 (4) ( 2020), pp. 313-321, DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2020.06.005

[[38]] N.M. Hemphill, M.T.Y. Kuan, K.C. Harris. Reduced physical activity during COVID-19 pandemic in children with congenital heart disease. Can J Cardiol, 36 (7) ( 2020), pp. 1130-1134, DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2020.04.038

[[39]] R. López-Bueno, G.F. López-Sánchez, J.A. Casajús, et al.. Health-related behaviors among school-aged children and adolescents during the Spanish COVID-19 confinement. Front Pediatr, 8 ( 2020), p. 573, DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.00573

[[40]] M. Xiang, Z. Zhang, K. Kuwahara. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents' lifestyle behavior larger than expected. Prog Cardiovasc Dis, 63 (4) ( 2020), pp. 531-532, DOI: 10.1016/j.pcad.2020.04.013

[[41]] E.L. Deci, R.M. Ryan. Self-determination theory. P.A.M. Van Lange, A.W. Kruglanski, T.E. Higgins (Eds.), Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology, Sage Publications Ltd ( 2012), pp. 416-436

[[42]] J. Paul, F. Jefferson.A comparative analysis of student performance in an online vs. face-to-face environmental science course from 2009 to 2016. Front Comput Sci, 1 ( 2019), p. 7, DOI: 10.3389/fcomp.2019.00007

[[43]] E. Boers, M.H. Afzali, N. Newton, P. Conrod. Association of screen time and depression in adolescence. JAMA Pediatr, 173 (9) ( 2019), pp. 853-859, DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.1759

[[44]] H. Abusaada, A. Elshater. COVID-19 challenge, information technologies, and smart cities: considerations for well-being. Int J Community Wellbeing, 3 (3) ( 2020), pp. 417-424, DOI: 10.1007/s42413-020-00068-5

We thank the contributions of all the co-researchers who participated in the research and the questionnaire— Geneviève Leduc: Senior Programs Advisor, FitSpirit, Quebec. Jonathan Tremblay: associate professor and researcher, École de kinésiologie et des sciences de l'activité physique, Université de Montréal, Québec. We thank the FitSpirit organization's cooperation. We thank the intervention's participation of all the girls, school administrators, coordinators, and school boards. We thank Miguel Chagnon and Justine Zehr for their statistical support.