Physical activity and mental well-being under COVID-19 lockdown: a cross-sectional multination study

Abstract Background COVID-19 lockdowns have reduced opportunities for physical activity (PA) and encouraged more sedentary lifestyles. A concomitant of sedentariness is compromised mental health. We investigated the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on PA, sedentary behavior, and mental health across four Western nations (USA, UK, France, and Australia). Methods An online survey was administered in the second quarter of 2020 (N = 2541). We measured planned and unplanned dimensions of PA using the Brunel Lifestyle Physical Activity Questionnaire and mental health using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire. Steps per day were recorded only from participants who used an electronic device for this purpose, and sedentary behavior was reported in hours per day (sitting and screen time). Results In the USA and Australia samples, there was a significant decline in planned PA from pre- to during lockdown. Among young adults, Australians exhibited the lowest planned PA scores, while in middle-aged groups, the UK recorded the highest. Young adults exhibited the largest reduction in unplanned PA. Across nations, there was a reduction of ~ 2000 steps per day. Large increases in sedentary behavior emerged during lockdown, which were most acute in young adults. Lockdown was associated with a decline in mental health that was more pronounced in women. Conclusions The findings illustrate the deleterious effects of lockdown on PA, sedentary behavior, and mental health across four Western nations. Australian young and lower middle-aged adults appeared to fare particularly badly in terms of planned PA. The reduction in steps per day is equivalent to the non-expenditure of ~ 100 kcal. Declines in mental health show how harmful lockdowns can be for women in particular.

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Sedentary Behavior among 6–14-Year-Old Children during the COVID-19 Lockdown and Its Relation to Physical and Mental Health

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9060756 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 756

Author(s):

Rima Breidokienė ◽

Roma Jusienė ◽

Vaidotas Urbonas ◽

Rūta Praninskienė ◽

Sigita Girdzijauskienė

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Screen Time ◽

Online Survey ◽

Somatic Symptoms ◽

Well Being ◽

Parental Distress ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

And Behavior

As a result of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 and consequent restrictions in spring 2020, children in many countries might be engaged in more sedentary behavior and have limited possibilities to access the necessary level of physical activity to maintain their physical and mental health. The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between child sedentary behavior, physical activity, mental and physical health, and parental distress in a sample of Lithuanian children aged 6–14 years during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in March–June 2020. Parents of 306 children (52.9% female) completed an online survey in May–June 2020 and reported on their children’s screen time for educational and recreational (leisure) purposes, the level of physical activity and time outdoors, somatic symptoms, and emotional well-being and behavior. Parents also reported on stressful life events in the family and personal distress. The results revealed that 57.5% of children exceeded the recommended maximum of 2 h of recreational screen time per day, and 33.6% of the children did not meet the recommended guidelines of 60 min of physical activity per day. Longer screen time for educational purposes and parental distress significantly predicted a higher prevalence of somatic symptoms in children and parental distress also served as a significant predictor of children’s decreased emotional well-being and behavior. These results highlight the importance of psychosocial support interventions for parents who experience distress when raising children at a stressful time, such as during a pandemic.

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The Comparison of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Mental Health between Early Menopausal Women and Age-Matched General Middle-Aged Women

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18147256 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (14) ◽

pp. 7256

Author(s):

Ji-Su Kim ◽

Ju-Pil Choe ◽

Jeong-Hui Park ◽

Eunhye Yoo ◽

Jung-Min Lee

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽

Middle Aged ◽

General Group ◽

Menopausal Women ◽

Global Physical Activity Questionnaire ◽

Causes Of Mortality

The current study is to examine the differences in physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and mental health (i.e., stress, depression, and suicidal behaviors) between early menopausal women and age-matched general middle-aged women. Among 1348 participants in South Korea, 674 participants who experienced menopause before the age of 45 were defined as the early menopausal group, and 674 women who experienced menopause from 45 years to 55 years were classified as the general group by matching age based on early menopausal women. PA, SB, and mental health were evaluated by using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). An independent t-test was used to compare the associations of PA, SB, and mental health between the two groups. To demonstrate the predictors of early menopause, variables in the study were analyzed by multinomial logistic regression. The main findings were that moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and light PA (LPA) had significant differences between the two groups, but SB had no significant differences. In mental health, only perceived stress had significant differences in this study. The moderate level of stress in the early menopausal group was twice as high as that of the general group, and the severe level of stress was even 2.6 times higher than the general group. PA plays an essential role in mitigating the causes of mortality and the risk of various chronic diseases and improving quality of life; thus, the main findings of this study could be important to provide insights on the corresponding impact between early menopausal women and PA to encourage their healthy lifestyle. Further longitudinal studies are needed to examine the mechanisms underlying the effects of PA, SB, and mental health on early menopausal women.

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Influence of the COVID-19 Lockdown on the Physical and Psychosocial Well-being and Work Productivity of Remote Workers: Cross-sectional Correlational Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.30708 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yessica Abigail Tronco Hernández ◽

Fabio Parente ◽

Mark A Faghy ◽

Clare M P Roscoe ◽

Frances A Maratos

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Work Productivity ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Remote Workers ◽

Distress Scale ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND Lockdowns imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the living and working habits of millions of people, with potentially important implications for their physical, mental, and social well-being. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on remote workers who were not directly affected by COVID-19. METHODS This was a correlational cross-sectional study (with an additional qualitative component) of 184 remote workers surveyed during the first COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom. Standard measures of mental health (Kessler-6 Distress Scale), productivity (Brief Instrument to Assess Workers’ Productivity During a Working Day), and physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) were used, and respondents were further surveyed on changes to their dietary, exercise, smoking, drinking, and socialization habits to produce a well-being change index. RESULTS The results revealed associations between sedentary behavior and poorer mental health (τb=0.14) and between poorer mental health and low work productivity (τb=–0.39). However, both positive and negative lifestyle changes were reported; a self-reported increase in well-being (with respect to diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, and socialization) since the start of the pandemic was associated with both better mental health (τb=–0.14) and better work productivity (τb=0.14). Of note, among respondents without a mental health diagnosis (137/184, 74.4%), we observed rates of moderate (76/137, 55.5%) and severe (17/137, 12.4%) psychological distress, which were markedly higher than those reported in large prepandemic studies; moreover, 70.1% (129/184) of our respondents reported more sedentary behavior, 41% (69/168) increased their alcohol consumption, and 38.6% (71/184) increased their overall food intake. However, 46% (75/163), 44.8% (39/87) and 51.8% (57/110) of respondents reported spending more time walking and engaging in more moderate and vigorous exercise, respectively. Qualitative analysis revealed many positive adaptations to lockdowns (eg, decreased commuting expenses, flexibility) but also a number of structural obstacles to remote working (eg, lack of support and high expectations from employers, childcare duties). CONCLUSIONS These findings may be of practical importance for policy makers and employers in a world in which work involves long-term remote or hybrid employment arrangements; strategies to promote more sustainable remote working are discussed.

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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on US College Students’ Physical Activity and Mental Health

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2020-0325 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 272-278 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Oliver W.A. Wilson ◽

Kelsey E. Holland ◽

Lucas D. Elliott ◽

Michele Duffey ◽

Melissa Bopp

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

College Students ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Significant Decline ◽

Spring Semester ◽

The Impact

Background: Investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on both physical activity (PA) and mental health is important to demonstrate the need for interventions. This study examined the apparent impact of the pandemic on college students’ PA, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms. Methods: From 2015 through 2020, data were collected at the beginning and end of the spring semester at a large Northeastern US university via an online survey assessing student demographics, PA, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms. Mixed ANOVA examined differences in PA and mental health changes over the spring semester between “normal” and COVID-19 circumstances. Two-way ANOVA examined the interaction between circumstance and changes in PA in relation to changes in mental health. Results: Participants (n = 1019) were predominately women and non-Hispanic white. There was a significant decline in PA and an increase in perceived stress under COVID-19, but not normal, circumstances and a significant increase in depressive symptoms under COVID-19, but not normal, circumstances among women. Conclusions: A significant decline in PA and mental health among college students occurred under COVID-19 circumstances, and PA did not appear to protect against deterioration in mental health. Proactive and innovative policies, programs, and practices to promote student health and well-being must be explored immediately.

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Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behavior among overweight young adults: A year-long longitudinal analysis (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.28317 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Victoria Costello ◽

Guillaume Chevance ◽

David Wing ◽

Shadia J, Assi ◽

Sydney Sharp ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Young Adults ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Daily Living ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Steps Per Day ◽

Objectively Measured ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic impacted multiple aspects of daily living, including behaviors associated with occupation, transportation, and health. It is unclear how these changes to daily living impacted physical activity and sedentary behavior. OBJECTIVE To examine the impact of the COVID-19 mitigation strategies on physical activity and sedentary behavior among young adults enrolled in an ongoing weight loss trial using longitudinal data acquired from wrist-worn activity monitors over the course of 1 year in San Diego, CA. METHODS Date were collected in 315 participants between 11/01/2019 and 10/30/2020 using the Fitbit Charge 3. After strict filtering for valid consistent wear (more than 10 hours per day for 250+ days), data from 97 participants were analyzed to detect multiple structural changes in time series of physical activity and sedentary behavior. RESULTS After initiation of the shelter-in-place order in CA on 03/19/2021, there were significant decreases in step counts (-2872 steps per day, 95% CI [-2734; -3010]), light physical activity (-41·9 minutes, 95% CI [39·5, 44·3]), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (-12·2 minutes, 95% CI [10·6, 13·8]), as well as significant increases in sedentary behavior (+52·8 minutes, 95% CI [47.0, 58.5]). Decreases were greater than expected declines observed during winter holidays, and as of 10/30/2020, they had not returned to levels observed prior to shelter-in-place orders. CONCLUSIONS In young adults, physical activity decreased and sedentary behavior increased concurrent with COVID-19 mitigation strategies. Health conditions associated with sedentary lifestyle may be additional unintended costs of the COVID-19 pandemic. CLINICALTRIAL NIH 5R01HL136769-03)

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Lifestyle and Mental Health Disruptions During COVID-19

10.31235/osf.io/y4xn3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Giovanni Giuntella ◽

Kelly Hyde ◽

Silvia Saccardo ◽

Sally Sadoff

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Time Use ◽

Well Being ◽

Sleep Time ◽

Policy Intervention ◽

Night Time ◽

Steps Per Day ◽

Mental Well Being ◽

Longitudinal Dataset

COVID-19 has affected daily life in unprecedented ways. Using a longitudinal dataset linking biometric and survey data from several cohorts of young adults before and during the pandemic (N=685), we document large disruptions to physical activity, sleep, time use, and mental health. At the onset of the pandemic, average steps decline from 9,400 to 4,600 steps per day, sleep increases by about 25-30 minutes per night, time spent socializing declines by over half to less than 30 minutes, and screen time more than doubles to over 5 hours per day. The proportion of participants at risk of clinical depression increases to 65%, over twice the rate in the same population prior to the pandemic. Our analyses suggest that disruption to physical activity is a leading risk factor for depression during the pandemic. However, restoration of those habits--either naturally or through policy intervention--has limited impact on restoring mental well-being.

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Nutrition, lifestyle factors, and mental health in adolescents and young adults living in Austria

International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health ◽

10.1515/ijamh-2013-0310 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 377-386 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Julia Walther ◽

Ulrike Aldrian ◽

Hans Peter Stüger ◽

Ingrid Kiefer ◽

Cem Ekmekcioglu

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Young Adults ◽

Young People ◽

Fast Food ◽

Well Being ◽

Lifestyle Factors ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Positive Effects

Abstract Background: Due to an alarming trend of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents, along with the sparse data on dietary habits and lifestyle factors, the present study aims to analyze the current nutritional behavior as well as the lifestyle and mental health of adolescents and young adults living in Austria. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 500 respondents (aged between 14 and 24 years) completed an anonymous questionnaire on nutrition behavior, mental health, and lifestyle factors by Internet survey. Results: Only 50% of the participants ate breakfast daily and 10% did not eat breakfast at all. About 47% of the respondents consumed milk and milk products daily. Furthermore, only 31% ate fruit and 21% ate vegetables at least once a day, and 46% ate fish seldom or never. Nearly 28% of young people liked to eat fast food twice or thrice a week and more, with males more often replacing a meal with a fast food product (36%) than females (21%). About 46% of the respondents engaged in physical activity only once a week (or more rarely). A fifth of our respondents (23%) spent more than 2 h a day using various social networks, with Facebook being the most popular social network among the respondents. Around 27% claimed to be smokers, with more female (33%) than male (20%) smoker. In terms of sleeping habits, 19% slept <6 h a day. Regarding well-being, 44% were more likely to feel stressed, 35% stated that they were tense, and 43% felt tired and listless. Eating together, physical activity, and sleep patterns showed positive effects on well-being, whereas higher consumption of fast food/snacks/soft drinks and alcoholic drinks/energy drinks was associated with relatively lower well-being. Conclusions: Unhealthy eating habits, suboptimal physical activity, and smoking are still prominent in a sample of Austrian adolescents and young people. In addition, stress and tiredness are also relevant problems in this collective.

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The Big Three Health Behaviors and Mental Health and Well-Being Among Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Investigation of Sleep, Exercise, and Diet

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2020.579205 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Shay-Ruby Wickham ◽

Natasha A. Amarasekara ◽

Adam Bartonicek ◽

Tamlin S. Conner

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Young Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Health Behaviors ◽

Well Being ◽

Higher Order ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health And Well Being

BackgroundSleep, physical activity, and diet have been associated with mental health and well-being individually in young adults. However, which of these “big three” health behaviors most strongly predicts mental health and well-being, and their higher-order relationships in predictive models, is less known. This study investigated the differential and higher-order associations between sleep, physical activity, and dietary factors as predictors of mental health and well-being in young adults.MethodIn a cross-sectional survey design, 1,111 young adults (28.4% men) ages 18–25 from New Zealand and the United States answered an online survey measuring typical sleep quantity and quality; physical activity; and consumption of raw and processed fruit and vegetables, fast food, sweets, and soda, along with extensive covariates (including demographics, socioeconomic status, body mass index, alcohol use, smoking, and health conditions) and the outcome measures of depressive symptoms [measured by the Center for Epidemiological Depression Scale (CES-D)] and well-being (measured by the Flourishing Scale).ResultsControlling for covariates, sleep quality was the strongest predictor of depressive symptoms and well-being, followed by sleep quantity and physical activity. Only one dietary factor—raw fruit and vegetable consumption—predicted greater well-being but not depressive symptoms when controlling for covariates. There were some higher-order interactions among health behaviors in predicting the outcomes, but these did not survive cross-validation.ConclusionSleep quality is an important predictor of mental health and well-being in young adults, whereas physical activity and diet are secondary but still significant factors. Although strictly correlational, these patterns suggest that future interventions could prioritize sleep quality to maximize mental health and well-being in young adults.

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Exercising Alone or Exercising With Others and Mental Health Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Longitudinal Analysis of Cross-Lagged and Simultaneous Effects

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2018-0366 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (7) ◽

pp. 556-564 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kazuhiro Harada ◽

Kouhei Masumoto ◽

Narihiko Kondo

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Mental Distress ◽

Japanese Version ◽

Well Being ◽

Total Physical Activity ◽

World Health ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Mental Well Being

Background: Although the beneficial effects of physical activity and exercise on mental health are well known, the optimal conditions for them for benefitting mental health are still unclear. Engaging in exercise with others might have more desirable effects on mental health than engaging in exercise alone. This study examined the associations between exercising alone, exercising with others, and mental health among middle-aged and older adults. Methods: Baseline and 1-year follow-up surveys were conducted with 129 individuals. Time spent exercising alone or with others was measured using a 7-day diary survey. Total physical activity was objectively measured using an accelerometer. Mental well-being was assessed using the simplified Japanese version of the World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index, and mental distress was assessed using the Japanese version of the Kessler Distress Scale (K6). Results: Cross-lagged and simultaneous effects models revealed that exercising with others positively influenced mental well-being. Exercising alone and total physical activity did not significantly influence mental well-being. Neither total physical activity, exercising alone, nor exercising with others was significantly associated with mental distress. Conclusion: Engaging in exercise with others could be effective in improving mental well-being relative to engaging in exercise alone.

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Commuter e-bike use is associated with increased total physical activity over time

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz187.092 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

B Chabanas ◽

C Praznoczy ◽

M Duclos

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Multilevel Modeling ◽

Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽

Well Being ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Prospective Longitudinal Study ◽

Prospective Longitudinal ◽

Over Time

Abstract Background Active commuting such as cycling has been recommended as a practical way to increase population physical activity levels and improve health. Beside positive health effects observed in experimental studies, less is known about how e-bikes can improve public health outcomes in real-life settings. Objectives To describe the patterns over time in physical activity, sedentary behavior, cardiorespiratory fitness and psychophysiological well-being in a population of new commuter e-bike users. Methods This was a population-based prospective longitudinal study in France. 33 new users of e-bike were recruited and measured at 4-time points (T0, T1, T2, T3), from before the effective beginning of the e-bike use (T0) until a mean of 4.6 months of use (T3) (min: 3.2, max: 7). Repeated measures multilevel modeling was used on 4 waves of measurements to assess variations over time of e-bike use, total moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and total sedentary time (SED-time). Pre-post comparisons between T0 and T3 were performed to detect change in cardiorespiratory fitness, markers of adiposity, self-esteem, quality of life (SF12-v2), and physical activity motivations (EMAPS). Results Adherence to e-bike commuting was high and stable, with a mean of 82% (3%) of weekly use. Multilevel modeling indicated that MVPA followed a significant increasing curvilinear trajectory over time, plateauing after 90 days (+ 21 MET-h/week compared to mean T0 at 33 MET-h/week). No significant change was found in SED-time, averaging a mean of 8.6 hours/day. Greater adherence to using an e-bike was associated with greater increases in MVPA. Several markers of physical and mental health improved. Conclusions New commuter e-bike users undergo a significant increase in MVPA while being already at a high level before e-bike use onset. This increase in MVPA could be meaningful to attenuate detrimental effects of a persistent high sedentary behavior. Key messages MVPA significantly increases among new commuter e-bike users, along with improvements in physical and mental health. High SED-time is persistent, making increase in MVPA in a population with a moderately high initial level still crucial.

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