IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i8p5463-d1120799.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Web-Based Physical Activity Interventions to Promote Resilience and Mindfulness Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study

Author

Listed:
  • Michele W. Marenus

    (School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Ana Cahuas

    (Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Dianna Hammoud

    (Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Andy Murray

    (School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Kathryn Friedman

    (School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Haley Ottensoser

    (School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Julia Sanowski

    (School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Varun Kumavarel

    (School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Weiyun Chen

    (School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

Abstract

College students faced unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Implementing a physical activity intervention can help support the physical and mental health of college students. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an aerobic–strength training exercise intervention ( WeActive ) and a mindful exercise intervention ( WeMindful ) in improving resilience and mindfulness among college students. Seventy-two students from a major public university in the Midwest participated in a two-arm experimental study over the course of ten weeks. One week before and after the 8-week interventions, participants completed the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-15), Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), and demographic and background questionnaire via Qualtrics. Both groups also participated in bi-weekly Peer Coaching sessions, which utilized reflective journaling and goal-setting exercises. ANCOVA showed a significant main effect of time for total mindfulness score ( F = 5.177, p < 0.05, η 2 = 0.070), mindfulness Acting with Awareness ( F = 7.321, p < 0.05, η 2 = 0.096), and mindfulness Non-Judging of Inner Experience ( F = 5.467, p < 0.05, η 2 = 0.073). No significant main effect of group and interaction effects of time with group were observed for the total mindfulness and the five facets of mindfulness as well as resilience. In addition, no significant main effect of time for resilience was found. We conclude that aerobic–strength exercises and mindful yoga exercises, together with reflective journaling, may be effective in increasing mindfulness in the college population.

Suggested Citation

  • Michele W. Marenus & Ana Cahuas & Dianna Hammoud & Andy Murray & Kathryn Friedman & Haley Ottensoser & Julia Sanowski & Varun Kumavarel & Weiyun Chen, 2023. "Web-Based Physical Activity Interventions to Promote Resilience and Mindfulness Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:8:p:5463-:d:1120799
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/8/5463/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/8/5463/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kathryn Friedman & Michele W. Marenus & Andy Murray & Ana Cahuas & Haley Ottensoser & Julia Sanowski & Weiyun Chen, 2022. "Enhancing Physical Activity and Psychological Well-Being in College Students during COVID-19 through WeActive and WeMindful Interventions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-14, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Collins Opoku Antwi & Michelle Allyshia Belle & Seth Yeboah Ntim & Yuanchun Wu & Emmanuel Affum-Osei & Michael Osei Aboagye & Jun Ren, 2022. "COVID-19 Pandemic and International Students’ Mental Health in China: Age, Gender, Chronic Health Condition and Having Infected Relative as Risk Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-15, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:8:p:5463-:d:1120799. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.