1. EMERSON Q. FERNANDO - Don Honorio Ventura State University, Lubao Campus, Sta. Catalina Lubao, Pampanga. Philippines.
2. NOEL L. DOMINADO - DepEd - Senior High School in Magalang Stand Alone, City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Philippines &
Visiting Professor at Don Honorio Ventura State University Graduate Studies.
Physical activity in the time of pandemic is very crucial for the health of everyone. The objectives of this study is to identify the barriers and coping strategy towards physical activity in the time of pandemic and to provide intervention program that may help the respondents to overcome barriers and improve coping strategy that the respondents further encountered. A sequential explanatory mixed method design is utilized; it includes both quantitative and qualitative parts in analysis and examining outcomes. Four hundred twelve (412) respondents for the quantitative phase and twenty five (25) participants for the qualitative phase. Based on the results, respondents addressed lack of energy, pain when exercising, how the respondents see the body figure, don’t have the ability to exercise, know that respondents can’t achieve the result, lack of available and suitable programs at the level, lack of transportation, lack of skills and negative experience in physical activity as a barrier in performing physical activity in the time of pandemic. Result suggested to use the proposed intervention program to help the students in coping up with the barriers encountered and to strengthen the students coping strategy in terms of; social support, problem solving and avoidance. Finally, it is recommended that teachers need to provide available and suitable programs to help students overcome the barriers and schools must provide broader knowledge through webinars and maximizing technological advancement to help students establish lifelong active lifestyles, behaviours, cultural and societal advancement in the comfort of students’ homes towards physical activity in the time of pandemic.
Coping Strategy; Barriers; Physical Activity