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

Jacob Meyer, Cillian McDowell, Jeni Lansing, Cassandra Brower, Lee Smith, Mark Tully and Matthew Herring
Additional contact information
Jacob Meyer: Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
Cillian McDowell: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging and School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin D02 R590, Ireland
Jeni Lansing: Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
Cassandra Brower: Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
Lee Smith: Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 2LZ, UK
Mark Tully: Institute of Mental Health Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine BT37 0QB, UK
Matthew Herring: Physical Activity for Health Research Cluster, Health Research Institute, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-13

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: COVID; physical activity; screen time; sitting time; sedentary; mental health; public health; depression; anxiety; loneliness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (52)

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