Effect of virtual physical exercise on mental health status during the covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

In May 2021, the Malaysian government enforced a movement control order (MCO) due to the worsening situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. MCO includes restrictions on outdoor activities and the closure of fitness centres. The active community may experience disquietude because this order affects their healthy living activities outdoor, and partially, it affects them psychologically. To overcome this, several endeavors were made to encourage physical exercise through live virtual physical activity via social media or recorded videos in the broadcasting platform. Therefore, this study aims to measure the mental health status of the community undergoing virtual physical exercise (VPE) program during MCO using a new modified instrument. In this study, 100 participants were randomly participated within the southeast region in Malaysia using the snowball effect strategy. The Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scales (DASS-21) questionnaire was modified into a new survey that was specifically designed to measure stress, anxiety, and depression related to VPE and MCO. The survey was scaled and administered online for data collection. The SPSS software was used for descriptive statistics, and SmartPLS software was used to test the structural equation model between the items. The obtained results showed significant changes in the mental health status [i.e., level of stress, anxiety and depression reduced after joining VPE (M = 14.5, SD = 13.6)]. In addition, depression was significantly correlated with stress and anxiety before and after involvement in VPE (p = 0.00). In conclusion, engaging in VPE during the quarantine and restricted movement period can lead to a healthier mental status. This study enlighten the future of physical activities using innovative method through technology, their impact on lifestyle, and the psychological states of the community.