Motivation and anxiety during the second COVID-19 lockdown in gym exercisers: The mediating role of affects and satisfaction with life

• Published in: Current psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.) N.J.), 2023-08, Vol.42 (23), p.20301-20311
• Main Authors: Antunes, R., Monteiro, D., Silva, C., Filipe, D., Cordeiro, F., Frontini, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anniversaries; Anxiety; Behavioral Science and Psychology; COVID-19; Epidemics; Health aspects; Motivation (Psychology); Portugal; Psychological aspects; Psychology; Risk factors; Shelter in place; Social Sciences
• ISSN: 1046-1310; 1936-4733
• DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03908-z

The present study aimed to analyze the association between motivation (self-determined and non-self-determined motivation), positive and negative affect, life satisfaction and state-anxiety in a sample of gym exercisers, during the 2nd COVID-19 lockdown in Portugal. Also, we aimed to analyze the possible mediating role of positive and negative affect and life satisfaction in the relationship between motivation and levels of state-anxiety. A total of 201 gym participants (30.42 ± 11.22) were enrolled in the present study, of which 116 (57.7%) were women and 85 (42.3%) were men. The survey included sociodemographic data as well as the subsequently validated instruments: the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The results revealed a positive association between state-anxiety and negative affect ( r  = .69), controlled motivation ( r  = .33), and autonomous motivation ( r  = .25). Still, state-anxiety was negatively associated with positive affect (r = -.40) and with satisfaction with life (r = -.43),. In addition, the results of mediation analysis, revealed inconsistent mediation of positive affect and life satisfaction in the relationship between autonomous motivation and state-anxiety. However, a total mediation was observed through negative affect and life satisfaction in the relationship between controlled motivation and anxiety since the indirect effect ( β  = .27) is higher than the direct effect ( β  = .06). Overall, the results reinforce that positive affect and satisfaction with life could act as a possible buffer against state-anxiety in gym exercisers and, thus, should be considered in future interventions and studies.