Springfield College Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training Leads Research Team

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College faculty members from the Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training are partnering with international research teams investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical and mental well-being of individuals. Faculty members are seeking volunteers to participate in the research.

For this study, participants must be at least 18 years of age, and will be asked to complete a one-off survey with questions relating to some basic information about themselves, reasons for exercising, physical-activity behaviors, and their mental well-being. The research team is specifically interested in an individual’s experiences before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participation in the survey should take no longer than 20 minutes.

“With this study, we hope to understand how the social-distancing measures put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic are affecting people’s physical-activity habits and mental well-being, and the relationship between the two,” said Jasmin Hutchinson, professor of Exercise Science and Sport Studies and director of Sport and Exercise Psychology. “We are also looking at how these variables might be influenced by exercise motivation and a variety of demographic and social factors.”

Hutchinson noted that this study is part of an international research effort. The Springfield College research team is partnering with researchers in France, Australia, and the United Kingdom, who will be distributing the same survey to populations in their country.

Participants can access the Qualtrics survey by clicking here. For more information regarding the survey, e-mail Hutchinson at jhutchinson@springfield.edu.