This study explores the changes in the exercising and sports of individuals before and after COVID-19 through a secondary analysis of data from “National Survey on the Effects of COVID-19 on Sports and Physical Activities” conducted by the Sasakawa Sports Foundation’s. This study particularly focuses on gender and on living with or without children to examine changes in the rates and frequencies for exercising and sports. This study also examines the relations between the changes in the use of time in daily lives and state of mind, and the level of involvement in exercising and sports. The analysis demonstrates that women are more adversely affected than men in the practice rates and frequencies of exercising and sports. Regarding the changes in the use of time in daily life and the state of mind, women are more affected than men. In particular, women who live with children are more affected than men living with or without children, or women who live without children. The rates of exercising and sports of those who experienced changes in their use of time decreased among those who “spend less time on housework, childcare or elderly care,” “spend less time alone,” “spend less leisure time,” and “spend more time with their family members.” By gender, the women’s exercising and sports rates decreased more than men. Regarding the changes in exercising and sports of those who experienced changes in their state of mind showed a more significant decrease among women than men in many survey items, regardless of experiencing negative or positive changes. The government and related organizations also need to further investigate the current situation and consider measures to enable all people to be involved in exercising and sports by when the COVID-19 pandemic is under control.

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