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The Influence of Physical Self-Efficacy on the Relationship Between Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms in Post-COVID Sufferers

Philipp, Y.N. (2022) The Influence of Physical Self-Efficacy on the Relationship Between Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms in Post-COVID Sufferers.

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Abstract:Background: Many people currently suffer from post-COVID, which affects their physical and mental health with long-lasting symptoms. Previous research already linked physical activity and depression but not in the context of post-COVID. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between depressive symptoms and physical activity in post-COVID sufferers and whether this relationship is mediated by physical self-efficacy (an individual's belief in their capacity to be physically active). Method: Through convenience sampling, 59 valid responses (Mage = 35.6, SDage = 13.3, 74.6% female) have been collected via an online cross-sectional survey in Qualtrics. The correlation between depressive symptoms and physical activity has been analysed using Kendall’s Rank Order Correlation. For the mediation analysis, PROCESS macro for SPSS by Hayes was used. Results: There was no significant correlation between depressive symptoms and physical activity, and no mediating effect of physical self-efficacy has been found. Conclusion: The non-significant correlation between depressive symptoms and physical activity was not expected, and the mediating effect of physical self-efficacy on that relationship could not be confirmed either. Those results might be caused by several limitations of that study, namely violation of assumptions and choice of instruments. Another interesting finding is that the expectation that high levels of physical activity would cause low levels of depressive symptoms could not be confirmed as scores for both variables have been high in this sample. Future studies should change the design and instruments and control for confounding variables that might influence this relationship.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology BSc (56604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/91470
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