May the Force be with you during the quarantine: A cross-sectional study on the perception of health locus of control, sports engagement and emotional eating of individuals who exercised regularly

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective This study evaluated the perception of health locus of control, sports engagement, and emotional eating during quarantine of individuals who regularly exercised before the quarantine. Methods Individuals who regularly attended the gym before the quarantine period were enrolled in the study. The questionnaire included the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale-A, Sport Engagement Scale, and Emotional Eating Scale, which was applied online to 513 gym members. Results 74.9% of participants adopted the perception of internal health locus of control. Emotional eating scores were higher in participants who did not exercise during the quarantine when compared to those who did and in those adopting the perception of chance health locus of control compared to participants adopting the perception of internal health locus of control. Participants who adopted the perception of internal health locus of control compared to the those who adopted the perception of chance or powerful others health locus of control had higher sports engagement (p<0.05). Individuals with a high BMI, who did not have a perception of internal health locus of control and who did not exercise during the quarantine were prone to emotional eating. Conclusion In conclusion, in those individuals who regularly went to gym before the quarantine, continuing to exercise during the quarantine may have provided an advantage in preventing emotional eating, and we also showed that sports engagement supported the continuation of exercise during the quarantine period. In addition, we determined that individuals with a high body mass index, who do not have a perception of internal health locus of control and who did not exercise during the quarantine were prone to emotional eating.