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Exercise and COVID-19: reasons individuals sought coaching support to assist them to increase physical activity
Stephen Barrett1,2, Kane Rodda3, Stephen Begg1
1La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria.
Objective:
This paper explores the experiences of individuals who reported substantially decreasing physical activity (PA) as a result of COVID-19 and sought coaching support to increase PA.
Methods:
A qualitative study using phenomenological analysis. Eight individuals participated in semi-structured interviews that focused on their experiences of decreasing PA as a result of physical distancing measures, and why they sought PA coaching to overcome these issues. Responses were analysed thematically.
Results:
The participants reported markedly decreasing their PA following the enactment of physical distancing measures. The inability to subsequently engage in regular PA was a source of frustration for participants. Interview analysis revealed two themes that contributed to the understanding of why these individuals felt they needed PA coaching to increase PA; namely, a desire for both listening support and PA self-regulation support.
Conclusion:
The individuals who decreased PA due to COVID-19 desired an autonomy-supportive counselling style, centred on listening support and self-regulatory support. Online PA interventions were not highlighted as strategies to overcome PA barriers. Implications for public health: The effect of physical distancing measures on the determinants of overall PA is important, particularly if prolonged physical distancing is required.
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