Physical activity and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania: insights for public health policy in low-income contexts
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic heightened anxiety levels globally, disproportionately affecting low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Physical activity (PA) has shown potential to alleviate mental health challenges, including anxiety. This study explores the relationship between PA and anxiety a...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1483153/full |
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| author | Joyce Sifa Ndabi Alfa Simwanza JohnBosco C. Chukwuorji JohnBosco C. Chukwuorji Dawn Tladi Rosemary C. Muomah Sampson K. Nwonyi Doris Akosua Tay Dale Joachim Leapetswe Malete Clement Adamba Vida Korleki Nyawornota Oscar Nyanyo Nyanynofio Samuel Kofi Donkor Reginald Ocansey Reginald Ocansey |
| author_facet | Joyce Sifa Ndabi Alfa Simwanza JohnBosco C. Chukwuorji JohnBosco C. Chukwuorji Dawn Tladi Rosemary C. Muomah Sampson K. Nwonyi Doris Akosua Tay Dale Joachim Leapetswe Malete Clement Adamba Vida Korleki Nyawornota Oscar Nyanyo Nyanynofio Samuel Kofi Donkor Reginald Ocansey Reginald Ocansey |
| author_sort | Joyce Sifa Ndabi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic heightened anxiety levels globally, disproportionately affecting low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Physical activity (PA) has shown potential to alleviate mental health challenges, including anxiety. This study explores the relationship between PA and anxiety among Tanzanian adults during the pandemic, examining whether self-reported health status moderates this relationship and identifying demographic variations.MethodsData from 213 adults were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale. Self-reported health was also reported.ResultsVigorous physical activity was significantly associated with lower anxiety, while moderate physical activity showed weaker effects. Walking and sedentary behavior were not significantly associated with anxiety. Health status did not moderate these relationships, but subgroup analyses indicated stronger effects of vigorous physical activity among men and younger adults.ConclusionThese findings highlight the relevance of PA, particularly vigorous and moderate physical activity, in supporting mental health in LMIC contexts such as Tanzania. The findings further underscore the importance of targeted, culturally relevant physical activity interventions in LMICs to mitigate anxiety and enhance mental health resilience. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-147c5f21a1fa41e4919abd36bd69d240 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-147c5f21a1fa41e4919abd36bd69d2402025-08-20T02:31:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652024-12-011210.3389/fpubh.2024.14831531483153Physical activity and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania: insights for public health policy in low-income contextsJoyce Sifa Ndabi0Alfa Simwanza1JohnBosco C. Chukwuorji2JohnBosco C. Chukwuorji3Dawn Tladi4Rosemary C. Muomah5Sampson K. Nwonyi6Doris Akosua Tay7Dale Joachim8Leapetswe Malete9Clement Adamba10Vida Korleki Nyawornota11Oscar Nyanyo Nyanynofio12Samuel Kofi Donkor13Reginald Ocansey14Reginald Ocansey15Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Dares Salaam, Dares Salaam, TanzaniaDepartment of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Dares Salaam, Dares Salaam, TanzaniaDepartment of Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, NigeriaCS Mott Department of Public Health, Michigan State University, Michigan, MI, United StatesDepartment of Sport Science, University of Botswana, Gaborone, BotswanaDepartment of Psychological Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, NigeriaDepartment of Psychology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, NigeriaDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Studies, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaSpeech Science, Sonde Health, Boston, MA, United StatesDepartment of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, MI, United States0School of Education and Leadership Studies, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Studies, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Studies, University of Ghana, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Psychology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, NigeriaDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Studies, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana2Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Sports, University of Education, Winneba, GhanaBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic heightened anxiety levels globally, disproportionately affecting low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Physical activity (PA) has shown potential to alleviate mental health challenges, including anxiety. This study explores the relationship between PA and anxiety among Tanzanian adults during the pandemic, examining whether self-reported health status moderates this relationship and identifying demographic variations.MethodsData from 213 adults were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale. Self-reported health was also reported.ResultsVigorous physical activity was significantly associated with lower anxiety, while moderate physical activity showed weaker effects. Walking and sedentary behavior were not significantly associated with anxiety. Health status did not moderate these relationships, but subgroup analyses indicated stronger effects of vigorous physical activity among men and younger adults.ConclusionThese findings highlight the relevance of PA, particularly vigorous and moderate physical activity, in supporting mental health in LMIC contexts such as Tanzania. The findings further underscore the importance of targeted, culturally relevant physical activity interventions in LMICs to mitigate anxiety and enhance mental health resilience.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1483153/fullphysical activityanxietyCOVID-19 pandemicTanzaniapublic healthpolicy |
| spellingShingle | Joyce Sifa Ndabi Alfa Simwanza JohnBosco C. Chukwuorji JohnBosco C. Chukwuorji Dawn Tladi Rosemary C. Muomah Sampson K. Nwonyi Doris Akosua Tay Dale Joachim Leapetswe Malete Clement Adamba Vida Korleki Nyawornota Oscar Nyanyo Nyanynofio Samuel Kofi Donkor Reginald Ocansey Reginald Ocansey Physical activity and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania: insights for public health policy in low-income contexts Frontiers in Public Health physical activity anxiety COVID-19 pandemic Tanzania public health policy |
| title | Physical activity and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania: insights for public health policy in low-income contexts |
| title_full | Physical activity and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania: insights for public health policy in low-income contexts |
| title_fullStr | Physical activity and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania: insights for public health policy in low-income contexts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical activity and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania: insights for public health policy in low-income contexts |
| title_short | Physical activity and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania: insights for public health policy in low-income contexts |
| title_sort | physical activity and anxiety during the covid 19 pandemic in tanzania insights for public health policy in low income contexts |
| topic | physical activity anxiety COVID-19 pandemic Tanzania public health policy |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1483153/full |
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