Exercise Behavior in the Epidemic of Covid-19 among Adolescents

Abstract

The research aims to study exercise behaviors during the COVID-19 epidemic, focusing on three aspects: cognitive, affective, and perceived knowledge. The sample consisted of 400 adolescents aged 12-18 years from high-risk area in Nakhon Nayok province, determined using Taro Yamane’s sampling formula. Data were collected via an online questionnaire (Google Form) with a content validity index of 0.80 and reliability coefficient of 0.72. The data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, an comparative analysis to identify differences in exercise behaviors. The findings revealed the following : (1) Female adolescents engaged in exercise more frequently than males, as females tended to follow exercise routines from various media sources that required minimal space or equipment. (2) Most adolescents exercised fewer than three days per week. (3) The average duration of exercise per session was less than 30 minutes. (4) Adolescents reported exercising for purposes including health, physical appearance, enjoyment, competition, social interaction, and, for some, a lack of motivation to exercise at all. (5) Differences in exercise-related attitudes were observed between genders, with males exhibiting more positive attitudes toward exercise than females during the pandemic.