Activity matters: Physical exercise and stress coping during the 2020 COVID-19 state of emergency

Recent studies have demonstrated that social isolation during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental and physical health of people worldwide. However, it remains unknown whether physical activity can improve mental health in a state of emergency. The present study aimed to examine the importance of physical exercising and stress management mechanisms (problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidant) in the context of mental health indicators (depression, anxiety, and nonspecific stress) in conditions of social isolation during COVID-19-induced lockdown in Serbia. The sample consisted of 680 adults (66% female), mean aged 35.91years (SD = 12.45). The results indicated a significant relation between physical exercising and a reduced stress response and confirmed the usefulness of the already well-known problem-focused strategies. Avoidant and emotion-focused coping were associated with poorer mental health outcomes. However, as a moderator, physical activity lowered anxiety levels in individuals prone to emotion-focused coping.

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Changes in health behaviors, mental and physical health among older adults under severe lockdown restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain

10.1101/2021.02.15.21251738 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Esther García-Esquinas ◽

Rosario Ortolá ◽

Iago Gine-Vázquez ◽

José A Carnicero ◽

Asier Mañas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Health Behaviors ◽

Physical Health ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Viewing Time ◽

Housing Conditions ◽

Mental And Physical Health

AbstractBackgroundWe aimed to examine main changes in health behaviors, mental and physical health among older adults under severe lockdown restrictions during the COVID-19.MethodsWe used prospective data from 3041 participants in four cohorts of community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years in Spain. Data were obtained using validated questionnaires through a pre-pandemic face-to-face interview and a telephone interview conducted between weeks 7 to 15 after the beginning the COVID-19 lockdown. Lineal or multinomial, as appropriate, regression models with adjustment for the main confounders were used to assess changes in the outcome variables from the pre-pandemic to the confinement period, and to identify their associated factors.ResultsOn average, the confinement was not associated with a deterioration in lifestyle risk factors (smoking, alcohol intake, diet or weight), except for a decreased physical activity and increased sedentary time, which reversed with the end of confinement. However, chronic pain worsened, and moderate declines in mental health, that did not seem to reverse after restrictions were lifted, were observed. Several subgroups of individuals were at increased risk of developing unhealthier lifestyles or mental health decline with confinement: (i)-males (for physical activity and sedentariness), (ii)-those with greater social isolation (for diet, physical activity, mental health), (iii)-feelings of loneliness (for diet, sleep quality, mental health), (iv)-poor housing conditions (for diet, physical activity, TV viewing time), (v)-unhealthy sleep duration (for physical activity and sedentariness), and (vi-worse overall health or chronic morbidities (for physical activity, screen time, mental health). On the other hand, previously having a greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet and doing more physical activity protected older adults from developing unhealthier lifestyles with confinement.ConclusionsThe lockdown during the first wave of the COVID-19 in Spain, which was one of the most restrictive in Europe, only led to minor average changes in health behaviors among older adults. However, mental health was moderately affected. If another lockdown were imposed on this or future pandemics, public health programs should specially address the needs of older individuals with male sex, greater social isolation, poor housing conditions and chronic morbidities, because of their greater vulnerability to the enacted movement restrictions

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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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Changes in Health Behaviors, Mental and Physical Health among Older Adults under Severe Lockdown Restrictions during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18137067 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (13) ◽

pp. 7067

Author(s):

Esther García-Esquinas ◽

Rosario Ortolá ◽

Iago Gine-Vázquez ◽

José A. Carnicero ◽

Asier Mañas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Housing Conditions ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Lifestyle Risk Factors ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Lifestyle Risk

We used data from 3041 participants in four cohorts of community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years in Spain collected through a pre-pandemic face-to-face interview and a telephone interview conducted between weeks 7 to 15 after the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown. On average, the confinement was not associated with a deterioration in lifestyle risk factors (smoking, alcohol intake, diet, or weight), except for a decreased physical activity and increased sedentary time, which reversed with the end of confinement. However, chronic pain worsened, and moderate declines in mental health, that did not seem to reverse after restrictions were lifted, were observed. Males, older adults with greater social isolation or greater feelings of loneliness, those with poorer housing conditions, as well as those with a higher prevalence of chronic morbidities were at increased risk of developing unhealthier lifestyles or mental health declines with confinement. On the other hand, previously having a greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet and doing more physical activity protected older adults from developing unhealthier lifestyles with confinement. If another lockdown were imposed during this or future pandemics, public health programs should specially address the needs of older individuals with male sex, greater social isolation, sub-optimal housing conditions, and chronic morbidities because of their greater vulnerability to the enacted movement restrictions.

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Transition to Social Isolation and Its Related Factors During Two Mild Lockdown Periods during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Survey in Japan (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.32694 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nagisa Sugaya ◽

Tetsuya Yamamoto ◽

Naho Suzuki ◽

Chigusa Uchiumi

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Psychological Stress ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Actual State ◽

Phase 2 ◽

Related Factors ◽

State Of Emergency ◽

States Of Emergency ◽

Socially Isolated

BACKGROUND Lockdowns and “stay-at-home” orders announced internationally for COVID-19 have led to physical and social distancing, with reports of many individuals experiencing social isolation and loneliness. Although the emergency declaration in Japan was declared as a mild lockdown which was requested by government without penalties for violations, the lockdown measures, including social isolation, had a several influences on people’s lives and mental health like other countries. In Japan, a state of emergency was declared multiple times; thus, it is necessary to examine the influence of the transition to social isolation caused by repeated emergency declarations and the deterioration of mental health associated with these changes. OBJECTIVE This study longitudinally investigated the transition to social isolation and its related factors during the “mild lockdown” under two declared states of emergency in Japan. METHODS We collected data on 7893 inhabitants (46.8% women, 49.6 ± 13.7 years) living in the seven prefectures where the first emergency declaration measure were first applied. The investigations were performed online in the final phase of the first and second states of emergency: phase 1 (between May 11 and = 12, 2020) and phase 2 (between February 24 and 28, 2021). RESULTS Forty-nine percent of the participants remained socially isolated through phases 1 and 2 and 12% were socially isolated in phase 2, even though they were not socially isolated in phase 1. There were more participants with persistent social isolation in unmarried or those without children and low household income groups, and the persistent social isolation group had fewer cohabitants compared to other transition pattern groups. The nonparametric Bayesian co-clustering results showed that most of the clusters in which there were participants without social isolation throughout Phases 1 and 2 had healthy behaviors, more interactions, good relationships, and lower levels of loneliness and psychological stress. Furthermore, the cluster in which relationships deteriorated in Phase 1 recovered in Phase 2. Comparatively, the clusters with social isolation throughout Phases 1 and 2 were divided into clusters with increased loneliness and psychological stress; clusters were close to the average scores of the participants in this study. Among these clusters, the clusters with increased loneliness and psychological stress were particularly notable for deteriorating relationships and less online interaction. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed the actual state of transition to social isolation and related psychological, social, and behavioral factors under repeated declarations of a state of emergency. These results are expected to be useful in constructing intervention methods that fit individual characteristics for people in social isolation during a pandemic.

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Greenspace to facilitate the positive physical activity and mental health outcomes of older adults in Canada

Western Undergraduate Research Journal Health and Natural Sciences ◽

10.5206/wurjhns.2014-15.9 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Adam G Gavarkovs

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Physical Health ◽

Physical Inactivity ◽

Positive Relationship ◽

Current System ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Mental And Physical Health

The link between physical inactivity and poor health outcomes is well established. Older adults are especially at risk for many health conditions, and are one of the most inactive populations in Canada. Increasing levels of neighbourhood greenness has shown a positive relationship with walking and exercise behaviours, which in turn affects both mental and physical health. Currently in Ontario, the provincial Planning Act outlines the process of parkland dedication that individual municipalities are responsible for carrying out. This policy brief will discuss the inadequacies of the current system in effectively creating greenspace for older adults, and will propose several recommendations to resolve these issues.

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Treatment Regret, Mental and Physical Health Indicators of Psychosocial Well-Being among Prostate Cancer Survivors

Current Oncology ◽

10.3390/curroncol28050333 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (5) ◽

pp. 3900-3917 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Cassidy Bradley ◽

Gabriela Ilie ◽

Cody MacDonald ◽

Lia Massoeurs ◽

Jasmine Dang Cam-Tu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Prostate Cancer ◽

Physical Health ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Well Being ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Prostate Cancer Survivors ◽

Spiritual Well Being ◽

Mental And Physical Health

Prostate cancer (PCa) patients and survivors are at high risk of mental health illness. Here, we examined the contribution of treatment regret, mental and physical health indicators to the social/family, emotional, functional and spiritual well-being of PCa survivors. The study assessed 367 men with a history of PCa residing in the Maritimes Canada who were surveyed between 2017 and 2021. The outcomes were social/family, emotional, functional and spiritual well-being (FACT-P,FACIT-Sp). Predictor variables included urinary, bowel and sexual function (UCLA-PCI), physical and mental health (SF-12), and treatment regret. Logistic regression analyses were controlled for age, income, and survivorship time. Poor social/family, emotional, functional and spiritual well-being was identified among 54.4%, 26.5%, 49.9% and 63.8% of the men in the sample. Men who reported treatment regret had 3.62, 5.58, or 4.63 higher odds of poor social/family, emotional, and functional well-being, respectively. Men with low household income had 3.77 times higher odds for poor social/ well-being. Good mental health was a protective factor for poor social/family, emotional, functional, or spiritual well-being. Better physical and sexual health were protective factors for poor functional well-being. Seeking to promote PCa patients’ autonomy in treatment decisions and recognizing this process’ vulnerability in health care contexts is warranted.

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Relationships Between Changes in Self-Reported Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviours and Health During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic in France and Switzerland

10.31236/osf.io/ydv84 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Boris Cheval ◽

Hamsini Sivaramakrishnan ◽

Silvio Maltagliati ◽

Layan Fessler ◽

Cyril Forestier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Physical Health ◽

Health Consequences ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Sedentary Behaviours ◽

Mental And Physical Health

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have detrimental effects on physical and mental health, but physical activity can help people to cope with stress, thereby mitigating its potential negative health consequences. In our study, we investigated whether changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours are associated with changes in mental and physical health during the COVID-19 lockdown.

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Relationships between Physical and Mental Health in Adolescents from Low-Income, Rural Communities: Univariate and Multivariate Analyses

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041372 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1372

Author(s):

Robyn Feiss ◽

Melissa M. Pangelinan

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Cluster Analysis ◽

Body Image ◽

Body Composition ◽

Physical Health ◽

Low Income ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Health Burdens ◽

Mental And Physical Health

Environment (i.e., rural vs. urban) and socioeconomic status (SES) are moderating factors of physical (i.e., obesity and/or physical activity) and internalizing mental health (i.e., stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms) in adolescents. Relationships between physical and mental health have been shown in adolescents; however, research has not addressed these relationships in those from low-income, rural backgrounds. Thus, the present study characterized physical and mental health in rural, low-SES adolescents and investigated relationships between physical and mental health in this population. Data were collected from 253 10th and 11th-grade students from Title I schools in rural Alabama. Self-report measures of mental health, self-esteem, body image, and physical activity were obtained, in addition to functional fitness and physical health assessments completed at each school. Relationships between mental and physical health were assessed using Pearson correlations and multivariate data-driven cluster analysis. Positive correlations were observed between body composition and mental health symptoms, while negative correlations were observed between body image and mental health and body composition. However, sex differences were present in these relationships. The multivariate cluster analysis identified groups of individuals based on profiles of mental and physical health. This individual-level analysis identified students with greater mental and/or physical health burdens (n = 53 and n = 40) who may benefit from targeted interventions. Overall, these results provide evidence of elevated mental and physical health burdens among rural, low-income adolescents. Moreover, targeted programs are needed to provide education about the relationship between physical and mental health to reduce health burdens in both domains in this population.

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Review of Sleep Problems Related to Social Distancing and Home Confinement During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Chronobiology in Medicine ◽

10.33069/cim.2021.0021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 87-91

Author(s):

Wan Seok Seo

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Sleep Problems ◽

Home School ◽

Sleep Patterns ◽

Social Distancing ◽

The World ◽

Sleep Difficulties ◽

At Home

Since the first outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in December 2019, we have experienced many changes that we have never ex- perienced before. Governments around the world have instituted various forms of social isolation measures to prevent the spread of COV- ID-19. These measures include social distancing, home confinement, quarantine, and lockdown. Unfortunately, these measures have in- creased the ambiguity of the economic situation and the uncertainty regarding the future. For many individuals, these actions resulted in changes in routines at home, school, and work; changes in roles at home, mental health, and physical activity; and changes in circadian cues. All of these alterations resulted in disruptions in sleep patterns and sleep difficulties. In this paper, the alterations in sleep patterns and the sleep difficulties related to social isolation policies would be reviewed. These include social distancing and home confinement. Finally, meth- ods to improve sleep problems also reviewed.

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The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Restrictions on Physical Activity and Psychological Characteristics of the Iranian People

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1192981/v1 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Esmaeel Saemi ◽

Hadi Nobari ◽

Georgian Badicu ◽

Habibollah Ghazizadeh ◽

Ali Pashabadi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Short Form ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Wilcoxon Test ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Impact

Abstract BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on physical activity behaviours, as well as on mental health indicators among Iranian residents. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 335 participants were included (155 males, mean age = 30.06 ± 14.58 years). The eligibility criteria for this study were as follows; 1- Having at least 10 years of age. 2- Having a minimum literacy rate 3- Ability to work with networks of smart communication devices such as smartphones and computers 4- Living in Iran for the past 5 years. Participants were selected through the convenience sampling and filled out an online questionnaire measuring physical activity behaviours (The International Physical Activity Questionnaire; IPAQ; Short Form) and two mental health indicators – self-esteem (Rosenberg self-esteem scale) and social physical anxiety (7-items social physique anxiety scale). ResultsThe results of Wilcoxon test showed that participants reported significant differences from before to during the pandemic in all three variables of physical activity (significant decreases), self-esteem (significant decreases), and social physical anxiety (significant increases). This difference was found, regardless of participants’ gender. The results of Spearman correlation test between changes in physical activity and changes in mental health indicators showed that COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted self-esteem and social physical anxiety. However, we have not found any significant association of physical activity’s change with social physical anxiety or self-esteem’s changes before and during the pandemic. ConclusionsIn sum, the findings of the present study indicate a detrimental effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical activity and mental health among Iranian’s residents. Public policies aiming to buffer the negative impact on COVID-19 Iranians’ health are urgently needed.

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