Stay-at-Home Orders during COVID-19: The Influence on Physical Activity and Recreational Screen Time Change among Diverse Emerging Adults and Future Implications for Health Promotion and the Prevention of Widening Health Disparities

Daheia J. Barr-Anderson, Vivienne M. Hazzard, Samantha L. Hahn, Amanda L. Folk, Brooke E. Wagner and Dianne Neumark-Sztainer
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Daheia J. Barr-Anderson: School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Vivienne M. Hazzard: Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Samantha L. Hahn: Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Amanda L. Folk: School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Brooke E. Wagner: School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Dianne Neumark-Sztainer: Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-11

Abstract: Background: The purpose of this study was to examine changes in physical activity (PA) and recreational screen time (RST) behaviors from pre-COVID-19 in 2018 to Spring 2020 during the mandatory stay-at-home order in an ethnically/racially, socioeconomically diverse sample of emerging adults. Methods: Longitudinal data were analyzed from 218 participants ( M age = 24.6 ± 2.0 years) who completed two surveys: EAT 2018 (Eating and Activity over Time) and C-EAT in 2020 (during COVID-19). Repeated ANCOVAs and multiple linear regression models were conducted. Results: Moderate-to-vigorous and total PA decreased (4.7 ± 0.3 to 3.5 ± 0.3 h/week [ p < 0.001] and 7.9 ± 0.4 to 5.8 ± 0.4 h/week [ p < 0.001], respectively), and RST increased from 26.5 ± 0.9 to 29.4 ± 0.8 h/week ( p = 0.003). Perceived lack of neighborhood safety, ethnic/racial minoritized identities, and low socioeconomic status were significant predictors of lower PA and higher RST during COVID-19. For example, low SES was associated with 4.04 fewer hours of total PA compared to high SES ( p < 0.001). Conclusions: Stay-at-home policies may have significantly influenced PA and RST levels in emerging adults with pre-existing disparities exacerbated during this mandatory period of sheltering-in-place. This suggests that the pandemic may have played a role in introducing or magnifying these disparities. Post-pandemic interventions will be needed to reverse trends in PA and RST, with a focus on improving neighborhood safety and meeting the needs of low socioeconomic and ethnic/racial minoritized groups.

Keywords: sedentary behavior; physical activity; screen time; pandemic; longitudinal study (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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