Home Working and Physical Activity during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

Venerando Rapisarda, Carla Loreto, Laura De Angelis, Giuditta Simoncelli, Claudia Lombardo, Riccardo Resina, Nicola Mucci, Agata Matarazzo, Luigi Vimercati and Caterina Ledda
Additional contact information
Venerando Rapisarda: Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 87 Building 10B, 95123 Catania, Italy
Carla Loreto: Human Anatomy and Histology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnology Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Laura De Angelis: Technological Innovation, Department of Technological Innovations and Safety of Plants, Product, and Anthropic Settlements, INAIL (National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work), 00144 Roma, Italy
Giuditta Simoncelli: Technological Innovation, Department of Technological Innovations and Safety of Plants, Product, and Anthropic Settlements, INAIL (National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work), 00144 Roma, Italy
Claudia Lombardo: Human Anatomy, Department “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Riccardo Resina: Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 87 Building 10B, 95123 Catania, Italy
Nicola Mucci: Occupational Medicine, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Agata Matarazzo: Department of Economics and Business, University of Catania, 95129 Catania, Italy
Luigi Vimercati: Occupational Medicine, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Aldo Moro University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
Caterina Ledda: Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 87 Building 10B, 95123 Catania, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-8

Abstract: Background: Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, human lifestyles and occupational settings have changed in the workplace. This survey explores associations of home working employment and related physical activity (PA–MET min/week). Methods: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted between March 2020 and March 2021. A standardized method for assessing PA and sedentary time, the Italian version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), was used through the Microsoft Forms ® platform for self-administering the questionnaire. Baseline data were collected, and four follow-ups were performed; a full calendar year was observed. Results: In total, 310 home workers were recruited in this investigation. The average body mass index (BMI- kg/m 2 ) was 21.4 ± 4.2 at baseline. The value increased at the first follow-up and fluctuated in the other recalls. The t -test of MET values of the four activities (Total PA, Vigorous-intensity activity, Moderate-intensity activity, Walking) show similar results; the total PA, at baseline 275.7 ± 138.6, decreased statistically significantly at the first (198.5 ± 84.6), third (174.9 ± 98.4), and fourth (188.7 ± 78.5) follow-ups, while it increased statistically significantly at the second follow-up (307.1 ± 106.1) compared to the baseline. Sedentary time was constant until the second follow-up, while it increased statistically significantly at the 3rd and 4th follow-up. Conclusion: workers involved reduced and reorganized their PA during this pandemic year. Each business company should intervene to improve the PA levels of workers and reduce sedentary behavior in the workplace.

Keywords: home work; remote working; sedentary time; fitness; workplace health promotion; COVID-19; pandemic (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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