Change in Physical Activity, Sleep Quality, and Psychosocial Variables during COVID-19 Lockdown: Evidence from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936.

Judith A Okely,Adele M Taylor,Paul Redmond,Janie Corley,Danielle Page,Miles Welstead,Tom C Russ,Simon R Cox,Barbora Skarabela

doi:10.3390/ijerph18010210

Abstract

(1) Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected the lives of older people. In this study, we examine changes in physical activity, sleep quality, and psychosocial variables among older people during COVID-19 lockdown. We build on cross-sectional studies on this topic by assessing change longitudinally. We also examined whether participant characteristics including demographic, cognitive, personality, and health variables were related to more positive or negative changes during lockdown. (2) Methods: 137 older participants (mean age 84 years) from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 study were included in the analysis. They completed the same questionnaires assessing physical activity, sleep quality, mental wellbeing, social support, loneliness, neighbourhood cohesion, and memory problems before (mostly 2 years earlier) and again during national lockdown. (3) Results: On average, levels of physical activity were reduced (those doing minimal physical activity increased from 10% to 19%) and perceived social support increased during lockdown (effect size drm = 0.178). More positive change in the psychosocial and behavioural outcome variables during lockdown was associated with personality traits (greater intellect, emotional stability, and extraversion) and having a higher general cognitive ability. Participants with a history of cardiovascular disease, more symptoms of anxiety, or who lived alone were more likely to experience negative changes in the outcome variables during lockdown. (4) Discussion: These results provide further insight into the experiences of older people during the COVID-19 pandemic and could help to identify those at greatest risk of negative psychosocial or behavioural changes during this time.

Highlights

Lothian Birth Cohort Studies, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK; Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK
With reference to variables identified in other studies on this topic, we examine changes in physical activity, sleep quality, psychological wellbeing, loneliness, social support, and neighbourhood cohesion
Excluded participants are individuals who took part in Wave 5 of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (LBC1936) study but were not included in the analytical sample

Summary

Introduction

(2) Methods: 137 older participants (mean age 84 years) from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 study were included in the analysis They completed the same questionnaires assessing physical activity, sleep quality, mental wellbeing, social support, loneliness, neighbourhood cohesion, and memory problems before (mostly 2 years earlier) and again during national lockdown. Stricter home quarantine measures and attempts to shield those at greatest risk of severe illness during lockdown mean that older people are at a greater risk of social isolation, especially those who may already have limited contact with the outside world This group could be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially experiencing lockdown and its consequences on mental and physical health for a longer time and to a greater degree than others [15,16]. With only a few exceptions [24,25,26,27,28] studies into the consequences of lockdown measures have been cross-sectional, relying on participants’ recollection of their prior states to infer how lockdown measures have affected change; objective evidence of changes in psychosocial and behavioural variables is currently limited

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion