The Association between Lifestyle Changes and Psychological Distress during COVID-19 Lockdown: The Moderating Role of COVID-Related Stressors

Michal Alon-Tirosh, Dorit Hadar-Shoval, Kfir Asraf, Lubna Tannous-Haddad and Orna Tzischinsky
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Michal Alon-Tirosh: Behavioral Sciences Department, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Yezreel Valley 1930600, Israel
Dorit Hadar-Shoval: Psychology Department, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Yezreel Valley 1930600, Israel
Kfir Asraf: Psychology Department, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Yezreel Valley 1930600, Israel
Lubna Tannous-Haddad: Behavioral Sciences Department, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Yezreel Valley 1930600, Israel
Orna Tzischinsky: Educational Counseling Department, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Yezreel Valley 1930600, Israel

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-12

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying circumstances (lockdown and social distancing) have been found to cause lifestyle habit changes. While negative changes (adopting risky behaviors) are known to be associated with high psychological distress, the effect of positive changes (adopting health-enhancing behaviors) has yet to be investigated. This study examined the association between the nature of changes and psychological distress, in addition to the moderating effect of “COVID-related stressors”. Online questionnaires, completed by 1969 participants, assessed the following: lifestyle changes due to COVID-19 with regard to cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, sleep quality, and eating habits; COVID-related stressors; Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. Positive and negative changes were associated with higher psychological distress compared to no lifestyle change, and there was a moderating effect of COVID-related stressors in the association between COVID-related lifestyle changes and distress. In conclusion, to reduce psychological distress in overwhelming circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic, people should carefully consider whether to make changes in their lifestyle habits before doing so, even if these changes are perceived as positive and health-enhancing. Furthermore, efforts should be focused on reducing the perception of stress from COVID-19 by working on personal and mental perceptions of the situation.

Keywords: health behavior; depression; anxiety; stress; cigarette smoking; alcohol consumption; physical activity; sleep quality; eating habits; nature of change (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 (2)

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