Staying Physically Active Is Associated with Better Mental Health and Sleep Health Outcomes during the Initial Period of COVID-19 Induced Nation-Wide Lockdown in Jordan

Yazan A. Al-Ajlouni, Su Hyun Park, Jude Alawa, Ban Dodin, Ghaith Shamaileh, Nour Makarem, Katherine M. Keyes and Dustin T. Duncan
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Yazan A. Al-Ajlouni: Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA
Su Hyun Park: Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA
Jude Alawa: School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Ban Dodin: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
Ghaith Shamaileh: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Science and Engineering, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
Nour Makarem: Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA
Katherine M. Keyes: Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA
Dustin T. Duncan: Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: Jordan, a Middle Eastern country, initially responded to an outbreak of COVID-19 cases within its own borders by imposing a 7-week strict lockdown and closure of international and domestic travel. Such measures drastically influenced lifestyle behaviors of the population. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of physical activity, and its association with mental and sleep health outcomes among Jordanians during a period of COVID-19 induced lockdown. Validated questionnaires were administered using a web-based platform to evaluate moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), anxiety and depressive symptoms, sleep health, and sociodemographic characteristics. A modified Poisson regression model with robust error variance was used to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Compared to participants who met the guidelines, those who did not had significantly higher prevalence of moderate or severe anxiety symptoms than that of minimal or mild anxiety symptoms and increased depressive symptoms. Insufficient MVPA was associated with higher prevalence of poor sleep quality, short sleep duration (<7 h) and sleep problems. Overall, sufficient MVPA was associated with better mental and sleep health during the COVID-19 induced nation-wide lockdown in Jordan. While further research is necessary, promoting physical activity during the lockdown could potentially improve mental and sleep health outcomes among the population.

Keywords: COVID-19; lockdown; physical activity; mental health; sleep health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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