Home-based physical activity and well-being during infectious diseases: a structural equation modeling study

Xiang Peng; Zulkaif Ahmed Saqib; Rashid Menhas

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1732564

Home-based physical activity and well-being during infectious diseases: a structural equation modeling study

Front Psychol. 2026 Jan 13:16:1732564. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1732564. eCollection 2025.

Authors

Xiang Peng¹, Zulkaif Ahmed Saqib², Rashid Menhas³

Affiliations

¹ College of Physical Education, Hunan City University, Yiyang, China.
² College of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China.
³ Department of Nursing, Shandong Xiehe University, Jinan, China.

Abstract

Background: Respiratory infectious diseases that require home isolation and preventive measures seriously disrupt human well-being. Home isolation keeps individuals who do not need hospitalization at home for activities and treatments. Promoting accessible interventions, such as home-based physical activity, is critical for sustaining health during periods of limited mobility. This study helps us understand how home-based activities contribute to building resilience in situations with limited access to traditional health care.

Objective: This study assessed the impact of home-based physical activity on quality of life, psychological resilience, physical and mental health, and sleep quality during respiratory infectious diseases.

Methods: A testable structural model based on social cognitive theory was used to examine the hypotheses of this study. Data were collected using an adapted questionnaire via a web-based survey of 2,200 adults. A convenience sampling approach was used to determine the sample size of this study. Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with SmartPLS 4.0 to test the hypotheses.

Results: Statistical analysis revealed that infectious diseases significantly impair mental well-being (β = -0.241), sleep quality (β = -0.092), physical health (β = -0.232), and psychological resilience (β = -0.276). Home-based physical activity mediates these effects by improving mental health, sleep, and physical health. Significant (green paths) and insignificant (red paths) mediating effects were identified in the research framework and path diagrams. Reliability and validity metrics confirmed the model's robustness and the distinctness of the constructs.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that engaging in home-based physical activity enhances psychological resilience, physical health, and sleep quality during infectious disease episodes. Using social cognitive principles, this intervention provides a practical, non-pharmacological approach to combat declining well-being during isolation.

Keywords: home-based physical activity; mental well-being; physical health; preventive measures; respiratory infectious disease.