Changes in Active Behaviours, Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, and Physical Fitness in Chilean Parents during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Study.

Sam Hernández-Jaña,Carlos Cristi-Montero,José Castro-Piñero,Danica Escobar-Gómez,Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez

doi:10.3390/ijerph19031846

Abstract

Strategies to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have caused different behavioural modifications in all populations. Therefore, this study aimed to determine changes in active commuting, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), physical fitness, and sedentary time during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chilean parents. Eighty-six fathers (41.30 ± 6.82 years) and 294 mothers (40.68 ± 6.92 years) of children from different schools from Valparaíso, Chile, participated. Inclusion criteria were adults with schoolchildren who were resident in Chile during the research period. Convenience sampling was used as a non-probabilistic sampling technique. Respondents completed a self-reported online survey about active commuting, MVPA, self-perceived physical fitness, and sedentary time July–September 2020 during the first pandemic period. Comparisons between before and during the pandemic were performed using t-tests and covariance analysis (ANCOVA), establishing a significance level at p < 0.05. Most participants stayed at home during the pandemic, whereas active and passive commuting significantly decreased in both fathers and mothers (p < 0.001). MVPA and physical fitness scores reduced considerably (p < 0.05), while sedentary time significantly increased (p < 0.05), independent of the sex of parents and children’s school type. Differences by age groups and the number of children were more heterogeneous, as younger parents showed a larger decrease in MVPA (p < 0.05) and physical fitness score (p < 0.05). Additionally, parents with one child showed a larger decrease in sedentary time (p < 0.05) than those with two or more children. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected healthy behaviours. Hence, health policies should promote more strategies to mitigate the long-term health effects of the pandemic on Chilean parents.

Highlights

The severe acute respiratory coronavirus disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, commonly referred to as COVID-19, was declared to be a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020 [1]
Compared with the baseline values, when parents were grouped according to age groups, those who were younger had a higher decrease in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and physical fitness compared
It is important to provide appropriate conditions for people who travel to work despite the confinement because many parents often have few chances to achieve physical activity recommendations

Summary

Introduction

The severe acute respiratory coronavirus disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, commonly referred to as COVID-19, was declared to be a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020 [1]. Health and economic consequences have been devastating in different countries around the world [2,3], affecting all populations in different ways [4], with greater effects in some communities due to health and social inequalities [5]. Has COVID-19 itself had detrimental effects on emotional health and well-being and caused cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurologic manifestations [2], but the strategies to reduce spread have had implications on other behaviours associated.

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