Physical activity during the Covid-19 pandemic

Routine physical activity is immensely important for individuals' short-term and long-term physical and mental health. Two theoretical frameworks, Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and the Social Identity Approach (SIA), have been used to understand mechanisms that support long-term exercise. Based on the tenets of these theoretical frameworks, individuals who feel they are in a physical activity environment in which they perceive a shared group identity and feel supported in their psychological needs will value and continue with routine physical activity. Governmental restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic prevented group physical activity, disrupting many individuals' physical activity habits.

Dr Meredith Schertzinger's research sought to understand individuals' physical activity behaviour during the pandemic within the theoretical frameworks of SDT and SIA.

Dr Schertzinger's first study surveyed runners during the first UK lockdown. Runners who felt confident and capable of their individual running and continued to perceive a shared identity with fellow runners reported positive levels of physical activity and mental well-being at the time of the survey.

Her final three studies explored the online exercise class experience, a physical activity resource heavily utilised during the pandemic but minimally explored in prior research.

Key findings include:

• Individuals can perceive a unique group identity (sense of 'we-ness') within online class environments.
• Like in-person exercise classes, online class leaders can develop a group identity that indirectly improves participants, effort, enjoyment and future class attendance.

Dr Schertzinger submitted her thesis in February 2023 and had an in-person viva in March 2023, examined by the School of Management's Dr Boyka Bratanova and Dr Jamie Barker of Loughborough University. Meredith was co-supervised by Dr Fergus Neville from the School of Management, Dr Gozde Ozakinci from the University of Stirling and Dr Andrew Williams from the University of Edinburgh.

She is currently working as a postdoctoral research fellow at Nipissing University, North Bay, Canada with Dr Mark Bruner in the Groups for Youth Development Lab.