AUTHOR=Alsalhe Tareq A. , Aljaloud Sulaiman O. , Chalghaf Nasr , Guelmami Noomen , Alhazza Dallal W. , Azaiez Fairouz , Bragazzi Nicola Luigi 

TITLE=Moderation Effect of Physical Activity on the Relationship Between Fear of COVID-19 and General Distress: A Pilot Case Study in Arabic Countries

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.570085

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2020.570085

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Aims</title><p>This study aimed to investigate the effects of the fear of COVID-19, level of physical activity, and gender on negative stress (distress) in an Arab population by means of structural equations based on partial least squares.</p></sec><sec><title>Materials and Methods</title><p>The sample population comprised of 459 participants from four Arab countries (age <italic>M</italic> = 33.02, SD = 8.46; <italic>n</italic> = 237 women and <italic>n</italic> = 222 men). The level of education was basic (&lt;9 years of study; <italic>n</italic> = 144), secondary/vocational (between 9 and 12; <italic>n</italic> = 178), and university (<italic>n</italic> = 137). The “Fear of COVID-19” Scale, the short form of the “International Physical Activity Questionnaire,” and the “Perceived Stress Scale” questionnaires were disseminated by emails and social networks <italic>via</italic> Google Forms. SMARTPLS software version 3.2.9 was used to model the relationships between the variables under study.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Results confirmed the links between level of physical activity, fear of COVID-19, and gender, showing a significant mediating effect of the fear of COVID-19 on the relationship between gender and general distress. The level of physical activity was also found to influence the fear of COVID-19, varying depending on gender. In addition, the model highlighted the presence of a moderation effect of the level of physical activity.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Based on the model presented in the present study, we can conclude that the COVID-19 pandemic has a profound impact on psychological distress in the target populations. The impact of the level of physical activity on psychological distress is shown to be very important during the pandemic phase.</p></sec>