Physical activity virtual intervention for improving mental health among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A Co-creation process and evaluation using the Behavior Change Wheel.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were reductions in university students' physical activity, which further increased their mental distress, calling for technology-based physical activity interventions to address the challenges in delivering in-person interventions. This study aimed to develop a technology-based physical activity intervention and pilot test it.

Methods: We developed a virtually-delivered team-based physical activity challenge using the Behavior Change Wheel and Co-creation Framework based on Self-determination Theory.