Background: A global pandemic caused by COVID-19 resulted in restrictions to daily living for Canadians, including social distancing and closure of recreation facilities and provincial parks. Methods: The objective of this study was to assess whether sex differences exist in physical activity and well-being since COVID-19 and to explore how barriers or facilitators to physical activity may explain these differences. Chi-square tests, independent t-tests and one-way ANOVAs were conducted to evaluate data provided by 1098 Canadians—215 men and 871 women. Results: Women were significantly less physically active than men and reported more barriers and fewer facilitators to physical activity and experienced significantly more generalized anxiety than men. Women who were engaged in less physical activity due to COVID-19 reported significantly lower mental health scores, lower social, emotional and psychological well-being, and significantly higher generalized anxiety, while women who engaged in more physical activity had improved mental health scores. Conclusions: Given the challenges that women uniquely face due to restrictions, it is imperative to advocate and provide environmental opportunity and support for physical activity to reduce the mental duress women may be experiencing. Specific physical activity programming that is inclusive of lifestyle physical activity and can engage children is encouraged.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19对女性体育锻炼行为和心理健康的影响

背景：由COVID-19引起的全球大流行导致加拿大人的日常生活受到限制，其中包括社会隔离，娱乐设施和省级公园的关闭。方法：本研究的目的是评估自COVID-19以来，体育活动和幸福感是否存在性别差异，并探讨阻碍体育活动的障碍或促进因素如何解释这些差异。进行卡方检验，独立t检验和单向方差分析，以评估1098名加拿大人（215名男性和871名女性）提供的数据。结果：女性的体力活动明显少于男性，并且报告了更多的障碍和较少的体育活动促进因素，并且比男性经历的焦虑症明显得多。由于COVID-19而从事较少体育活动的妇女，其心理健康评分显着降低，社会，情感和心理健康状况显着降低，广泛性焦虑明显较高，而从事较多体育活动的妇女的心理健康评分有所提高。结论：鉴于女性由于限制而面临的独特挑战，因此必须倡导并提供环境机会和体育锻炼支持，以减少女性可能遭受的精神压力。鼓励进行具体的体育锻炼计划，其中应包括生活方式的体育锻炼，并使儿童参与其中。而从事更多体育活动的女性的心理健康得分有所提高。结论：鉴于女性由于限制而面临的独特挑战，因此必须倡导并提供环境机会和体育锻炼支持，以减少女性可能遭受的精神压力。鼓励进行具体的体育锻炼计划，其中应包括生活方式的体育锻炼，并使儿童参与其中。而从事更多体育活动的女性的心理健康得分有所提高。结论：鉴于女性由于限制而面临的独特挑战，因此必须倡导并提供环境机会和体育锻炼支持，以减少女性可能遭受的精神压力。鼓励进行具体的体育锻炼计划，其中应包括生活方式的体育锻炼，并使儿童参与其中。