Abstract
This study explored the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on perceived health behaviors; physical activity, sleep, and diet behaviors, alongside associations with wellbeing. Participants were 1,140 individuals residing in the United Kingdom (n = 230), South Korea (n = 204), Finland (n = 171), Philippines (n = 132), Latin America (n = 124), Spain (n = 112), North America (n = 87), and Italy (n = 80). They completed an online survey reporting possible changes in the targeted behaviors as well as perceived changes in their physical and mental health. Multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVA) on the final sample (n = 1,131) revealed significant mean differences regarding perceived physical and mental health “over the last week,” as well as changes in health behaviors during the pandemic by levels of physical activity and country of residence. Follow up analyses indicated that individuals with highest decrease in physical activity reported significantly lower physical and mental health, while those with highest increase in physical activity reported significantly higher increase in sleep and lower weight gain. United Kingdom participants reported lowest levels of physical health and highest increase in weight while Latin American participants reported being most affected by emotional problems. Finnish participants reported significantly higher ratings for physical health. The physical activity by country interaction was significant for wellbeing. MANCOVA also revealed significant differences across physical activity levels and four established age categories. Participants in the oldest category reported being significantly least affected by personal and emotional problems; youngest participants reported significantly more sleep. The age by physical activity interaction was significant for eating. Discussed in light of Hobfoll (1998) conservation of resources theory, findings endorse the policy of advocating physical activity as a means of generating and maintaining resources combative of stress and protective of health.
Highlights
Pandemics are identified as large-scale outbreaks of infectious diseases
We contend that for some, this has resulted in maladaptive changes in health behaviors including reduced or altered physical activity behaviors, increased food consumption, and disturbed sleep (Di Renzo et al, 2020; Di Sebastiano et al, 2020; Kings College London (KCL), 2020), and presented consequences for resource accumulation and maintenance, and mental health (Liu et al, 2020; Salari et al, 2020; Sun et al, 2020; Wang et al, 2020)
Regarding mental health perceived “during the last week,” significant mean score differences were found in ratings of Latin American participants who indicated being most affected by personal or emotional problems, while South Koreans reported being significantly least affected compared to most countries
Summary
Pandemics are identified as large-scale outbreaks of infectious diseases. They significantly increase morbidity and mortality over an extensive geographic area and contribute to substantial economic, social, and political disruption (Madhav et al, 2017). We contend that for some, this has resulted in maladaptive changes in health behaviors including reduced or altered physical activity behaviors, increased food consumption, and disturbed sleep (Di Renzo et al, 2020; Di Sebastiano et al, 2020; Kings College London (KCL), 2020), and presented consequences for resource accumulation and maintenance, and mental health (Liu et al, 2020; Salari et al, 2020; Sun et al, 2020; Wang et al, 2020). Our first aim was to examine potential differences in individuals’ perceived health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., eating and sleep) and wellbeing across countries and changes in physical activity. Due to the novelty of the virus, no specific hypotheses were drawn regarding age comparisons
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