Despite the global impact of COVID-19, studies comparing the effects of COVID-19 on population mental health across countries are sparse. This study aimed to compare anxiety and depression symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown among adults from 11 countries and to examine their associations with country-level COVID-19 factors and personal COVID-19 exposure. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults (≥18 years) in 11 countries (Brazil, Bulgaria, China, India, Ireland, North Macedonia, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, Turkey, United States). Mental health (anxiety, depression, resilient coping, hope) and other study data were collected between June–August 2020. Of the 13,263 participants, 62.8% were female and 51.7% were 18–34 years old. Participants living in Brazil had the highest anxiety and depression symptoms while participants living in Singapore had the lowest. Greater personal COVID-19 exposure was associated with increased anxiety and depression symptoms, but country-level COVID-19 factors were not. Higher levels of hope were associated with reduced anxiety and depression; higher levels of resilient coping were associated with reduced anxiety but not depression. Substantial variations exist in anxiety and depression symptoms across countries during the COVID-19 lockdown, with personal COVID-19 exposure being a significant risk factor. Strategies that mitigate COVID-19 exposure and enhance hope and resilience may reduce anxiety and depression during global emergencies.

Mental fatigue is an important factor affecting athletes’ performance. Explaining the effects of mental fatigue on sports performance from a theoretical point of view can help us deeply understand the interconnection between mental fatigue and sports performance and conduct effective interventions based on this. Combining the relevant literature in China and abroad reveals that the current academic theories on the mechanism of sports fatigue include motivational control theory, underload theory, neural waste disposal hypothesis, and resource depletion theory. The effects of mental fatigue on performance are reflected in aerobic endurance, sports decision-making, tactical performance, and technical performance. Current coping strategies for mental fatigue include physiological coping strategies based on nutrition (caffeine), odor, and noninvasive neuromodulation techniques and psychological and behavioral coping strategies based on music and positive thinking.

During the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, physical activity (PA) behaviors were altered worldwide due to public health measures such as “lockdown.” This study described PA among adults residing in 11 countries during COVID-19 lockdown and examined factors associated with PA engagement. We conducted a cross-sectional anonymous survey among adults (≥18 years old) in 11 countries (Brazil, Bulgaria, China, India, Ireland, Malaysia, North Macedonia, Singapore, Spain, Turkey, United States). Of 11,775 participants, 63.7% were female and 52.8% were 18–34 years old. More than 40% of participants were insufficiently active (43.9%) and reported a decrease in their PA during lockdown (44.8%). Statistically significant differences were observed in (1) proportions of participants being insufficiently active, (2) level of PA, and (3) decrease in PA across the 11 countries. More stringent governmental policy responses were associated with greater likelihood of being insufficiently active during lockdown (adjusted odds ratio = 1.22, 95% confidence interval = 1.03, 1.45). Higher depression or anxiety scores were associated with greater likelihood of decreased level of PA during lockdown.We found substantial reductions in PA levels during COVID-19 lockdown across countries. Country-specific PA promotion interventions are needed during this and similar global emergencies.

Prior research has found the differential strength of optimism and pessimism in predicting physical health. However, whether similar findings would be obtained in predicting subjective well-being and the possible underlying mechanisms are still unclear. This study examined the relative strength of optimism and pessimism in predicting adolescent life satisfaction and depression, and further explored the possible mediating mechanisms from the perspective of emotion regulation. A sample of 2672 adolescents (M_age = 13.54 years, SD = 1.04; 55.60% boys) completed a survey assessing optimism and pessimism, the habitual use of reappraisal and acceptance strategies, life satisfaction, and depression. The results from dominance analysis revealed that the presence of optimism was more powerful than the absence of pessimism in predicting adolescent life satisfaction, while the absence of pessimism was more powerful than the presence of optimism in predicting adolescent depression. Moreover, mediation models showed that reappraisal and acceptance mediated both the link between optimism and life satisfaction and the link between pessimism and depression. These findings suggest possible avenues for intervening in different aspects of adolescent subjective well-being.

Purpose: Behavior studies have found that exercise addiction is associated with high impulsivity. In other addictions, neural mechanisms of impulsivity reflect abnormalities in the reward and inhibition systems. In this study, we determined whether abnormalities existed in the reward and inhibition systems of exercise addicts. Methods: Three groups of male participants (15 exercise addicts, 18 regular exercisers, and 16 exercise avoiders) completed the Mini International Personality Item Pool (Mini-IPIP), the classic go/no-go task, and the exercise-related go/no-go task. Event-related potentials (ERP) were recorded during the go/no-go tasks, and correctly performed trials were analyzed. Results: Exercise addicts scored lower for extraversion and higher for neuroticism, reflecting a poor capacity for emotional regulation and impulse control, and had larger N2 and P3d amplitudes during the exercise-related go/no-go task. Exercise addicts and exercise avoiders demonstrated impaired accuracy in the exercise-related go/no-go task and had larger N2 amplitudes compared with regular exercisers during the letter–digit go/no-go task. Exercise addicts and regular exercisers showed larger Go-N1 and Go-P2 amplitudes compared with exercise avoiders during the exercise-related go/no-go task. Exercisers (exercise addicts and regular exercisers) demonstrated higher activation in response to exercise-related stimuli as reflected by larger N1 and P2, and addicts (exercise addicts) demonstrated poorer inhibition as reflected by larger N2 and P3d amplitudes. Go-N1 and Go-P2 were significantly correlated with no-go accuracy in exercise-related task. Conclusions: Exercise addicts scored higher for the neuroticism personality trait and exhibited overactivation of the reward system and underactivation of the inhibition system. Overactivation of the reward system may be related to long-term exposure to exercise. Underactivation of the inhibition system may be a crucial factor in exercise addiction.