Barriers to Active Lifestyle and the Coping Strategies of the PE Students in the New Normal

Abstract

The spread of the coronavirus all over the world has an impact on our daily routine, including the limitation of every individual's ability to go out of their respective homes. The active involvement of students in physical activity and the desire to stay active during a pandemic has been jeopardized due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in the country, and this has brought restrictions to limit students' opportunities for physical activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the barriers and coping strategies to an active lifestyle among tertiary physical education students during the pandemic. The descriptive-quantitative design was used in this study, with a researcher-made questionnaire administered to tertiary physical education students to collect data that is relevant for interpretation. Based on the findings, the non-availability of fitness equipment, facilities, and resources were the top barriers for students to be involved in physical activity in the new normal. Meanwhile, the results showed that when it comes to the coping strategies for an active lifestyle, students engage themselves in doing different household chores to stay active and healthy. Furthermore, in order to keep up an active lifestyle, the identified barriers need to be taken into account by the physical educators and added to the university's physical education program. This can be done by designing a physical activity that works well in the new normal setting and helps each student get healthier and live a healthier life.