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Journal article
Life in a time of COVID: retrospective examination of the association between physical activity and mental well-being in western Australians during and after lockdown
BMC public health, Vol.23(1), Art. 701
2023
PMID: 37060048
Abstract
Background
The aim of this study was to examine physical activity and sedentary behaviours during Western Australia’s COVID-19 lockdown and their association with mental well-being.
Methods
Participants completed activity related questions approximately two months after a three-month lockdown (which formed part of a larger cross-sectional study from August to October 2020) as part of a 25-minute questionnaire adapted from the Western Australia Health and Well-being Surveillance system. Open-ended questions explored key issues relating to physical activity behaviours.
Results
During the lockdown period, 463 participants (female, n = 347; 75.3%) reported lower number of active days (W = 4.47 p < .001), higher non-work-related screen hours per week (W = 11.8 p < .001), and higher levels of sitting time (χ2=28.4 p < .001). Post lockdown body mass index was higher (U = 3.0 p = .003), with obese individuals reporting the highest non-work-related screen hours per week (Wald χ2= 8.9 p = .012). Inverse associations were found for mental well-being where higher lockdown scores of Kessler-10 (p = .011), Dass-21 anxiety (p = .027) and Dass-21 depression (p = .011) were associated with lower physical activity levels. A key qualitative message from participants was wanting to know how to stay healthy during lockdown.
Conclusions
Lockdown was associated with lower physical activity, higher non-work-related screen time and more sitting time compared to post lockdown which also reported higher body mass index. Lower levels of mental well-being were associated with lower physical activity levels during lockdown. Given the known positive affect of physical activity on mental well-being and obesity, and the detrimental associations shown in this study, a key public health message should be considered in an attempt to maintain healthy activity behaviours in future lockdowns and similar emergency situations to promote and maintain positive well-being. Furthermore, consideration should be given to the isolation of a community due to infectious disease outbreaks and to recognise the important role physical activity plays in maintaining weight and supporting good mental health.
Details
- Title
- Life in a time of COVID: retrospective examination of the association between physical activity and mental well-being in western Australians during and after lockdown
- Authors/Creators
- Ben Piggott - The University of Notre Dame AustraliaPaola Chivers - The University of Notre Dame AustraliaKiira Karoliina Sarasjärvi - The University of Notre Dame AustraliaRanila Bhoyroo - The University of Notre Dame AustraliaMichelle Lambert - Edith Cowan UniversityLynne Millar - The University of Notre Dame AustraliaCaroline Bulsara - Institute for Health Research, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, AustraliaJim Codde - The University of Notre Dame Australia
- Publication Details
- BMC public health, Vol.23(1), Art. 701
- Publisher
- BioMed Central Ltd as Part of Springer Nature.
- Identifiers
- 991005572568507891
- Copyright
- © 2023 The Author(s).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.44 Nutrition & Dietetics
- 1.44.103 Physical Activity
- Web Of Science research areas
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
- ESI research areas
- Social Sciences, general