Fitness and the Crisis: Impacts of COVID-19 on Active Living and Life Satisfaction in Austria

David Jungwirth, Chiara Amelie Weninger and Daniela Haluza
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David Jungwirth: Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Chiara Amelie Weninger: Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Daniela Haluza: Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-13

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted human lifestyles across the world. Lockdowns and home confinement decreased prior opportunities for everyday physical activity. To retrospectively assess how the Austrian population coped with these aspects of the crisis, we conducted a cross-sectional online survey from March to September 2021 using a structured questionnaire in German. In total, 1214 participants (56.9% females, mean age 37.0 years) living across Austria shared self-reported information on sociodemographic characteristics, indoor and outdoor physical activity, reasons for being outdoors, and life satisfaction before and after the emergence of the virus. As a result, overall indoor physical activity significantly decreased in a before–during COVID-19 crisis comparison, although exercising at home with online instructions increased by about 63%. Exercising outdoors increased overall, specifically in periurban forests and rural areas, both by about 9%. Life satisfaction decreased significantly by 19.7% ( p < 0.001). Outdoor public places and natural environments gained importance due to restrictions affecting access to sport facilities. Further research is needed to evaluate benefits and therapeutic values of outdoor nature for physical and mental health in times of a global pandemic to maintain resilient societies, as it might impact future active living and life satisfaction.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; physical activity; mental health; nature; sitting time (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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