Changes in Health-Related Behaviours and Mental Health in a UK Public Sample during the First Set of COVID-19 Public Health Restrictions

Jason J. Wilson, Lee Smith, Anita Yakkundi, Louis Jacob, Suzanne Martin, Igor Grabovac, Daragh T. McDermott, Rubén López-Bueno, Yvonne Barnett, Laurie T. Butler, Felipe B. Schuch, Nicola C. Armstrong and Mark A. Tully
Additional contact information
Jason J. Wilson: Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute, School of Sport, Ulster University, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, UK
Lee Smith: The Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
Anita Yakkundi: Northern Ireland Public Health Research Network, School of Health Sciences, Ulster University, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, UK
Louis Jacob: Faculty of Medicine, University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, 78180 Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France
Suzanne Martin: Centre for Health and Rehabilitation Technologies, Institute of Nursing and Health Research, School of Health Sciences, Ulster University, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, UK
Igor Grabovac: Centre for Public Health, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria
Daragh T. McDermott: NTU Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK
Rubén López-Bueno: Department of Physical Medicine and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Yvonne Barnett: School of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
Laurie T. Butler: Faculty of Science & Engineering, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
Felipe B. Schuch: Department of Sports Methods and Techniques, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, Brazil
Nicola C. Armstrong: Health and Social Care Research & Development Division, Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland), Belfast BT2 8BS, UK
Mark A. Tully: School of Medicine, Ulster University, Londonderry BT48 7JL, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-12

Abstract: Public health restrictions, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, have had potentially wide-ranging, unintended effects on health-related behaviours such as diet and physical activity and also affected mental health due to reduced social interactions. This study explored how health-related behaviours and mental health were impacted in a sample of the UK public during the first set of COVID-19 public health restrictions. Two online surveys were administered in the UK, one within the first three months of the restrictions (Timepoints 1 (T1—involving pre-pandemic recall) and 2/T2) and another ten weeks later (Timepoint 3/T3). Moderate–vigorous physical activity (MVPA), outdoor time, sitting time, screen time and sexual activity were self-reported. Diet was assessed using the Dietary Instrument for Nutrition Education questionnaire. Mental health was measured using the short-form Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale and Becks’ Anxiety and Depression Inventories. Differences between timepoints were explored using the Friedman, Wilcoxon signed-rank, McNemar and McNemar–Bowker tests. Two hundred and ninety-six adults (74% under 65 years old; 65% female) provided data across all timepoints. Between T1 and T2, MVPA, time outdoors and sexual activity decreased while sitting, and screen time increased ( p < 0.05). Between T2 and T3, saturated fat intake, MVPA, time outdoors, and mental wellbeing increased while sitting, screen time and anxiety symptoms decreased ( p < 0.05). This study found that depending on the level of COVID-19 public health restrictions in place, there appeared to be a varying impact on different health-related behaviours and mental health. As countries emerge from restrictions, it is prudent to direct necessary resources to address these important public health issues.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; health behaviour; social distancing; longitudinal study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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