Transitioning to Working from Home Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Significantly Increased Sedentary Behavior and Decreased Physical Activity: A Meta-Analysis

Nicole Chaudhary, Megan Jones, Sean P. M. Rice, Laura Zeigen and Saurabh Suhas Thosar ()
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Nicole Chaudhary: Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97239, USA
Megan Jones: Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97239, USA
Sean P. M. Rice: Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97239, USA
Laura Zeigen: Oregon Health & Science University Library, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR 97239, USA
Saurabh Suhas Thosar: Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97239, USA

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many workplaces transitioned to remote work, which altered lifestyle behaviors. We conducted a meta-analysis to understand if the transition to working from home due to the pandemic affected workers’ physical activity and sedentary behavior worldwide. We reviewed articles published between November 2019 and May 2022. Of an initial 3485 articles, a total of 17 were included, 15 of 17 were included for their physical activity (PA) comparisons ( n = 36,650), and 12 of 17 ( n = 57,254) were included for their sedentary behavior (SB) comparisons (10 studies have data for both PA and SB). This work is registered through PROSPERO (CRD42022356000). Working from home resulted in a significant decrease in PA (Hedge’s g = −0.29, 95% CI [−0.41, −0.18]) and an increase in SB (Hedge’s g = +0.36, 95% CI [0.20, 0.52]). Working from home impaired preventative activity behaviors, and these results are relevant to worker health as the future of work evolves beyond the pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; work from home; physical activity; remote work; sedentary behavior; chronic disease risk; future of work initiative (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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