Adolescent Mental Health and Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Padang City

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic, a rapidly spreading infectious disease, limits one's activities and reduces physical activity as a result of the adoption of social isolation to reduce the risk of transmission. As the Covid-19 pandemic spreads, staying physically active is crucial to maintaining mental wellness. This study aims to investigate the relationship between physical exercise and adolescent mental health in the Covid-19 epidemic. This research uses a cross-sectional design and is quantitative. Using a stratified random sampling technique, 246 persons were sampled at SMPN Padang City. The Self Reporting Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20) and Physical Activity Questionnaire-Adolescent (PAQ-A) questionnaires were distributed online using google forms for this study's collection of physical activity and mental health data. The data were analyzed using the Chi-square test. Adolescent mental health was shown to be significantly correlated with physical exercise (p-value = 0.000; OR 2.660; CI 1.568-4.515). Teenagers are advised to enhance their physical activity levels and learn about physical activities that can help prevent mental health difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to help prevent problems.