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

Esther García-Esquinas, Rosario Ortolá, Iago Gine-Vázquez, José A. Carnicero, Asier Mañas, Elvira Lara, Alejandro Alvarez-Bustos, German Vicente-Rodriguez, Mercedes Sotos-Prieto, Beatriz Olaya, Francisco José Garcia-Garcia, Narcis Gusi, Jose R. Banegas, Irene Rodríguez-Gómez, Ellen A. Struijk, David Martínez-Gómez, Alberto Lana, Josep María Haro, José Luis Ayuso-Mateos, Leocadio Rodríguez-Mañas, Ignacio Ara, Marta Miret and Fernando Rodríguez-Artalejo
Additional contact information
Esther García-Esquinas: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Rosario Ortolá: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Iago Gine-Vázquez: Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, 08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
José A. Carnicero: Foundation for Biomedical Research, Getafe University Hospital, 28905 Getafe, Spain
Asier Mañas: CIBERFES (CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Elvira Lara: CIBERSAM (CIBER of Mental Health), 28029 Madrid, Spain
Alejandro Alvarez-Bustos: Foundation for Biomedical Research, Getafe University Hospital, 28905 Getafe, Spain
German Vicente-Rodriguez: GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Mercedes Sotos-Prieto: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Beatriz Olaya: Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, 08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
Francisco José Garcia-Garcia: CIBERFES (CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Narcis Gusi: CIBERFES (CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Jose R. Banegas: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Irene Rodríguez-Gómez: CIBERFES (CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Ellen A. Struijk: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain
David Martínez-Gómez: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Alberto Lana: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad de Oviedo/ISPA, 33003 Oviedo, Spain
Josep María Haro: Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, 08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
José Luis Ayuso-Mateos: CIBERSAM (CIBER of Mental Health), 28029 Madrid, Spain
Leocadio Rodríguez-Mañas: Foundation for Biomedical Research, Getafe University Hospital, 28905 Getafe, Spain
Ignacio Ara: CIBERFES (CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Marta Miret: CIBERSAM (CIBER of Mental Health), 28029 Madrid, Spain
Fernando Rodríguez-Artalejo: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 13, 1-25

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: COVID-19; lockdown; confinement; elderly; lifestyle behaviors; mental health; chronic pain (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 (5)

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