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

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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Influence of the COVID-19 lockdown on remote workers’ physical and psychosocial wellbeing and work productivity

10.31234/osf.io/dnuk3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yessica Abigail Tronco Hernández ◽

Fabio Parente ◽

Mark A. Faghy ◽

Clare M. P. Roscoe ◽

Frances Maratos

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Sedentary Behaviour ◽

Practical Importance ◽

Work Productivity ◽

Well Being ◽

Lifestyle Changes ◽

Vigorous Exercise ◽

Remote Workers ◽

The Impact

Introduction: Imposed lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the living and working habits of millions, with potentially important implications for physical, mental, and social wellbeing.Objectives: The primary objective was to investigate the impact of the pandemic on remote workers not directly affected by the virus.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 UK. Standard measures of mental health (Kessler-6), productivity (IAPT) and physical activity (IPAQ) were used, with respondents further surveyed on changes to their dietary, exercise, smoking, drinking and socialisation habits to produce a ‘well-being change index’.Results: Results revealed associations between sedentary behaviour and poorer mental health (τb=.14) and between poorer mental health and low work productivity (τb=-.39). However, both positive and negative lifestyle changes were reported; a self-reported increase in wellbeing (with respect to diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, and socialisation) since the start of the pandemic was associated with both better mental health (τb=-.14) and better work productivity (τb=.14). Of note, we observed rates of moderate (55%) and severe (12%) psychological distress markedly higher than those reported in large pre-pandemic studies, and 70% of our respondents reported more sedentary behaviour, 41% increased their alcohol consumption and 39% their overall food intake. However, 46%, 45% and 52% reported spending more time walking, engaging in more moderate and vigorous exercise, respectively. Qualitative analysis revealed many positive adaptations to lockdowns (e.g., decreased commuting expenses, flexibility) but also a number of structural obstacles to remote working (e.g., lack of support and high expectations from employers, childcare duties).Conclusion: These findings may be of practical importance for policy makers and employers in a world of work involving long-term remote or hybrid employment arrangements; strategies to promote more sustainable remote working are discussed.

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Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Response to COVID-19 and Their Associations with Mental Health in 3052 US Adults

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17186469 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (18) ◽

pp. 6469 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Jacob Meyer ◽

Cillian McDowell ◽

Jeni Lansing ◽

Cassandra Brower ◽

Lee Smith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Screen Time ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Societal Changes ◽

The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic altered many facets of life. We aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19-related public health guidelines on physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, mental health, and their interrelations. Cross-sectional data were collected from 3052 US adults 3–8 April 2020 (from all 50 states). Participants self-reported pre- and post-COVID-19 levels of moderate and vigorous PA, sitting, and screen time. Currently-followed public health guidelines, stress, loneliness, positive mental health (PMH), social connectedness, and depressive and anxiety symptoms were self-reported. Participants were grouped by meeting US PA guidelines, reporting ≥8 h/day of sitting, or ≥8 h/day of screen time, pre- and post-COVID-19. Overall, 62% of participants were female, with age ranging from 18–24 (16.6% of sample) to 75+ (9.3%). Self-reported PA was lower post-COVID among participants reporting being previously active (mean change: −32.3% [95% CI: −36.3%, −28.1%]) but largely unchanged among previously inactive participants (+2.3% [−3.5%, +8.1%]). No longer meeting PA guidelines and increased screen time were associated with worse depression, loneliness, stress, and PMH (p < 0.001). Self-isolation/quarantine was associated with higher depressive and anxiety symptoms compared to social distancing (p < 0.001). Maintaining and enhancing physical activity participation and limiting screen time increases during abrupt societal changes may mitigate the mental health consequences.

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Spirituality and Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior among Latino Men and Women in Massachusetts

Ethnicity & Disease ◽

10.18865/ed.27.1.3 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 3 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Valerie J. Silfee ◽

Christina F. Haughton ◽

Stephenie C. Lemon ◽

Vilma Lora ◽

Milagros C. Rosal

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Family Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Future Research ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Latino Men ◽

Hispanic Adults ◽

Sectional Analysis ◽

The Impact

Objective: To examine the relationships between spirituality and physical activity and sedentary behavior in a sample of Latino adults in Massachusetts.Design: This is a cross-sectional analysis of the Lawrence Health and Well Being Study; a study that was conducted among patients at the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC) in Lawrence, Massachusetts.Participants: 602 Latino or Hispanic adults aged 21 to 85 years completed the study.Results: There was a significant negative relationship between spirituality and sedentary behavior (β= -.12, p = .004). Although not statistically significant, higher spirituality was associated with increased odds of engaging in physical activity. There were no significant associations between spirituality and physical activity among men or women. Men with greater spirituality were significantly less sedentary (β = -.17, P = .005). There was no relationship between sedentary behavior and spirituality among women.Conclusions: This study found that individuals who are more spiritual are also less sedentary, and this association was stronger in men than women. Findings provide insight for developing future interventions to promote activity in this high-risk population, which has been greatly understudied. Future research endeavors should consider investigating the impact of spirituality-based messages to reduce sedentary behavior among Latinos.Ethn Dis. 2017;27(1):3-10; doi:10.18865/ed.27.1.3.

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Low Zinc, Copper, and Manganese Intake is Associated with Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in the Japanese Working Population: Findings from the Eating Habit and Well-Being Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11040847 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 847 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Mieko Nakamura ◽

Ayako Miura ◽

Tomomi Nagahata ◽

Yosuke Shibata ◽

Eisaku Okada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Well Being ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Eating Habit ◽

High Manganese ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

High Zinc ◽

Distress Scale ◽

The Impact

Epidemiological studies have suggested that there is an association between diet and mental health. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the intake of six minerals and mental disorders in a cross-sectional study. We used data from the Eating Habit and Well-being study in Japanese workers. Kessler’s six-item psychological distress scale was used to detect mental disorders, with a cut-off score of 12/13, and a validated food frequency questionnaire was used to estimate dietary mineral intake. A total of 2089 participants with no history of depression were included. The prevalence of mental disorders was 6.9%. The lowest quartiles of zinc, copper, and manganese intakes were associated with mental disorders, whereas the lowest quartiles of calcium, magnesium, and iron intake were not associated with mental disorders. Combination analysis of high (≥median) or low (<median) intake of zinc, copper, and manganese showed that low zinc and low copper intake, even with low or high manganese intake (odds ratio (OR), 2.71, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.29–5.73, and OR, 3.06, 95% CI, 1.41–6.61, respectively) showed a higher OR than that of high zinc, high copper, and high manganese intake. Further studies are required to investigate the impact of dietary mineral intake on mental health.

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How is the COVID-19 lockdown impacting the mental health of parents of school-age children in the UK? A cross-sectional online survey

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043397 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. e043397

Author(s):

Austen El-Osta ◽

Aos Alaa ◽

Iman Webber ◽

Eva Riboli Sasco ◽

Emmanouil Bagkeris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Female Gender ◽

School Age Children ◽

School Age ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Uk ◽

The Impact

ObjectiveInvestigate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on feelings of loneliness and social isolation in parents of school-age children.DesignCross-sectional online survey of parents of primary and secondary school-age children.SettingCommunity setting.Participants1214 parents of school-age children in the UK.MethodsAn online survey explored the impact of lockdown on the mental health of parents with school-age children, and in particular about feelings of social isolation and loneliness. Associations between the UCLA Three-Item Loneliness Scale (UCLATILS), the Direct Measure of Loneliness (DMOL) and the characteristics of the study participants were assessed using ordinal logistic regression models.Main outcome measuresSelf-reported measures of social isolation and loneliness using UCLATILS and DMOL.ResultsHalf of respondents felt they lacked companionship, 45% had feelings of being left out, 58% felt isolated and 46% felt lonely during the first 100 days of lockdown. The factors that were associated with higher levels of loneliness on UCLATILS were female gender, parenting a child with special needs, lack of a dedicated space for distance learning, disruption of sleep patterns and low levels of physical activity during the lockdown. Factors associated with a higher DMOL were female gender, single parenting, parenting a child with special needs, unemployment, low physical activity, lack of a dedicated study space and disruption of sleep patterns during the lockdown.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 lockdown has increased feelings of social isolation and loneliness among parents of school-age children. The sustained adoption of two modifiable health-seeking lifestyle behaviours (increased levels of physical activity and the maintenance of good sleep hygiene practices) wmay help reduce feelings of social isolation and loneliness during lockdown.

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

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10931-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Costas I. Karageorghis ◽

Jonathan M. Bird ◽

Jasmin C. Hutchinson ◽

Mark Hamer ◽

Yvonne N. Delevoye-Turrell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Young Adults ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Online Survey ◽

Electronic Device ◽

Well Being ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Steps Per Day ◽

Western Nations

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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Impact of Social Isolation on Physical Activity and Factors Associated With Sedentary Behavior in Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2020-0456 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Giovana Z. Mazo ◽

Felipe Fank ◽

Pedro S. Franco ◽

Bruna da Silva Vieira Capanema ◽

Franciele da Silva Pereira

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Low Income ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Moderate Physical Activity ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

The Impact

The objective was to analyze the impact of social isolation on moderate physical activity and factors associated with sedentary behavior of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a cross-sectional study involving 111 older adults (aged 71.0 ± 6.87 years). The data were collected at two time points: in November 2019 and in June 2020. There was a decline in moderate physical activity when the minutes/week were compared before and during social isolation (p < .001). Sedentary behavior was associated with the condition of living alone. Older adults who lived alone were 3.29 times more likely to spend 4 hr or more in sedentary behavior than those who lived with a partner (95% confidence interval [1.01, 10.74]). Government agencies must establish PA-related health promotion strategies, especially in developing and low-income countries. Therefore, home exercises need to be encouraged to prevent the consequences of this pandemic period.

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Vigorous physical activity, perceived stress, sleep and mental health among university students from 23 low- and middle-income countries

International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health ◽

10.1515/ijamh-2017-0116 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Supa Pengpid ◽

Karl Peltzer

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

University Students ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Well Being ◽

Good Health ◽

Short Version ◽

Cross Sectional

AbstractBackgroundVigorous physical activity (VPA) may be beneficial for mental health. The aim of the study was to investigate cross-sectional associations between VPA, perceived stress, sleep quality and quantity and mental health among university students.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study, using anonymous questionnaires, data was collected from 15122 (42.1% male and 57.9% female) university students [mean age 20.6, standard deviation (SD) = 2.0] from 23 countries in the Americas, Africa and Asia. They were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short version), and measures of sociodemographic, health status, health behaviour and anthropometrics.ResultsStudents who met VPA recommendations were less likely to report perceived stress, more likely to report subjective good health and depression than students without VPA. There was no association between VPA and sleep quality and quantity and PTSD symptoms.ConclusionThis study only found partial benefits of VPA in relation to well-being of university students.

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Declining mental health among disadvantaged Americans

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1722023115 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 115 (28) ◽

pp. 7290-7295 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Noreen Goldman ◽

Dana A. Glei ◽

Maxine Weinstein

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Positive Emotions ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Opioid Epidemic ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Modest Improvement ◽

The Us ◽

The Impact

Although there is little dispute about the impact of the US opioid epidemic on recent mortality, there is less consensus about whether trends reflect increasing despair among American adults. The issue is complicated by the absence of established scales or definitions of despair as well as a paucity of studies examining changes in psychological health, especially well-being, since the 1990s. We contribute evidence using two cross-sectional waves of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study to assess changes in measures of psychological distress and well-being. These measures capture negative emotions such as sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness, and positive emotions such as happiness, fulfillment, and life satisfaction. Most of the measures reveal increasing distress and decreasing well-being across the age span for those of low relative socioeconomic position, in contrast to little decline or modest improvement for persons of high relative position.

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Prevalence and association of discrimination and bullying and the impact on mental health in an occupational setting

International Journal of Workplace Health Management ◽

10.1108/ijwhm-02-2020-0018 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth Stratton ◽

Michael J. Player ◽

Ariane Dahlheimer ◽

Isabella Choi ◽

Nicholas Glozier

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

Occupational Setting ◽

Male Dominated ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Impact

PurposeDiscrimination and bullying contribute to mental ill-health in the workplace. At face value, they would seem linked but are often dealt with by different legislations. Workplace studies generally focus on bullying and population studies on discrimination. The authors aimed to evaluate the prevalence and relationship of discrimination and bullying in a male-dominated workforce, associated factors and relative impact on mental ill-health.Design/methodology/approachAn online cohort survey was conducted amongst employees of an Australian mining company, measuring discrimination, bullying, demographics and workplace and health factors over two months. Cross-sectional and prospective analyses assessed the prevalence of each, their association and their effects on depression and anxiety.FindingsA total of 580 employees (82% male) participated. There was no association between workplace bullying (n = 56, 9.7%) and discrimination (n = 160, 27.6%). Discrimination, but not bullying, was associated with higher depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation and lower well-being and resilience. After controlling for demographic, workplace and health and well-being factors, depression had the main effect on discrimination ß = 0.39, p = 0.003. Discrimination predicted an increase in depression scores at follow-up F (1, 129) = 4.88, p = 0.029.Originality/valueIn this male-dominated industry, discrimination was more prevalent than bullying. Discrimination, but not bullying, was associated with poorer mental health both cross sectionally and prospectively. Supporting the need to assess and manage discrimination and bullying in the workplace independently and the need for interventions to reduce a broader range of adverse interpersonal behaviours.

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