Physical Activity, Mental Health and Wellbeing of Adults within and during the Easing of COVID-19 Restrictions, in the United Kingdom and New Zealand

James Faulkner, Wendy J. O’Brien, Beth Stuart, Lee Stoner, John Batten, Daniel Wadsworth, Christopher D. Askew, Claire E. Badenhorst, Erin Byrd, Nick Draper, Catherine Elliot, Simon Fryer, Michael J. Hamlin, John R. Jakeman, Kelly A. Mackintosh, Melitta A. McNarry, Andrew Mitchelmore, Helen Ryan-Stewart, Zoe Saynor, Mia A. Schaumberg, Emily Spiegelhalter, Keeron Stone and Danielle Lambrick
Additional contact information
James Faulkner: School of Sport, Health and Community, University of Winchester, Winchester SO22 4NR, UK
Wendy J. O’Brien: School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Auckland 0745, New Zealand
Beth Stuart: Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
Lee Stoner: Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
John Batten: School of Sport, Health and Community, University of Winchester, Winchester SO22 4NR, UK
Daniel Wadsworth: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland 4558, Australia
Christopher D. Askew: Sunshine Coast Health Institute, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Queensland 4575, Australia
Claire E. Badenhorst: School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Auckland 0745, New Zealand
Erin Byrd: Department of Sport, Health Sciences and Social Work, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
Nick Draper: Faculty of Health, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 4800, New Zealand
Catherine Elliot: Department of Tourism, Sport and Society, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
Simon Fryer: School of Sport and Exercise, University of Gloucestershire, Gloucester GL2 9HW, UK
Michael J. Hamlin: Department of Tourism, Sport and Society, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
John R. Jakeman: Department of Sport, Health Sciences and Social Work, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
Kelly A. Mackintosh: Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise and Medicine Research Centre, Swansea University, Swansea SA1 8EN, UK
Melitta A. McNarry: Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise and Medicine Research Centre, Swansea University, Swansea SA1 8EN, UK
Andrew Mitchelmore: Department of Sport, Health Sciences and Social Work, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
Helen Ryan-Stewart: School of Sport, Health and Community, University of Winchester, Winchester SO22 4NR, UK
Zoe Saynor: Physical Activity, Health and Rehabilitation Thematic Research Group, School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2UP, UK
Mia A. Schaumberg: Sunshine Coast Health Institute, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Queensland 4575, Australia
Emily Spiegelhalter: School of Sport, Health and Community, University of Winchester, Winchester SO22 4NR, UK
Keeron Stone: School of Sport and Exercise, University of Gloucestershire, Gloucester GL2 9HW, UK
Danielle Lambrick: School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-11

Abstract: Physical activity (PA) participation was substantially reduced at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between PA, mental health, and wellbeing during and following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom (UK) and New Zealand (NZ). In this study, 3363 adults completed online surveys within 2–6 weeks of initial COVID-19 restrictions (April/May 2020) and once restrictions to human movement had been eased. Outcome measures included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short-Form, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-9 (mental health) and World Health Organisation-5 Wellbeing Index. There were no differences in PA, mental health or wellbeing between timepoints ( p > 0.05). Individuals engaging in moderate or high volume of PA had significantly better mental health (−1.1 and −1.7 units, respectively) and wellbeing (11.4 and 18.6 units, respectively) than individuals who engaged in low PA ( p < 0.001). Mental health was better once COVID-19 restrictions were eased ( p < 0.001). NZ had better mental health and wellbeing than the UK ( p < 0.001). Participation in moderate-to-high volumes of PA was associated with better mental health and wellbeing, both during and following periods of COVID-19 containment, compared to participation in low volumes of PA. Where applicable, during the current or future pandemic(s), moderate-to-high volumes of PA should be encouraged.

Keywords: Coronavirus disease; pandemic; lifestyle behaviour change; exercise; depression; lockdown (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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