Socioecological correlates associated with muscle-strengthening exercise at home during COVID-19 among adolescents: The our life at home study

ABSTRACT

This study examined adolescent muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE) participation at home and associated socioecological correlates during Australia’s initial COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Adolescents (N = 731, M_age = 16.3, SD = 1.2 years, 73% female) self-reported their MSE participation in February 2020 (pre-lockdown; at a gym or at home) and April/May (during lockdown; at home only as gyms were closed). They also reported a range of potential individual, family, and home environment correlates. Remoteness and area-level socioeconomic disadvantage were also considered. Logistic regression models examined potential correlates of participation in any MSE and MSE engagement ≥3 times/week during April/May. Fewer adolescents participated in MSE during April/May (48%) than February (54%), however, the proportions that engaged in MSE ≥3 times/week were the same (30%). Prioritising being active every day (OR = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.52, 3.90), being active with sibling/s ≥ 5 days/week (OR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.00, 5.00) and access to weights at home (OR = 2.98, 95% CI = 1.94, 4.57) were associated with higher odds of any MSE participation at home during April/May. These variables were also positively associated with MSE participation at home ≥3 times/week. Understanding how to support adolescents to prioritise being active, engage in MSE with siblings, and provide equipment may assist adolescents to engage in home-based MSE.

KEYWORDS:

• Youth
• physical activity
• environment
• strength training
• resistance training

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all those who participated in the Our Life at Home study and Mr Samuel Cassar for his work as a research assistant on the project. The study was supported by funding from the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University. The funders played no role in the study design, the collection, analysis or interpretation of the data, the writing of the report or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

JV and NDR are supported by a National Heart Foundation of Australia Future Leader Fellowships (JV: ID 101928; NDR: 101895). JS is supported by a Leadership Level 2 Fellowship, National Health and Medical Research Council (APP 1176885). RU is supported by an Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellowship.