Decrease In Physical Activity During SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic Linked To Depression In Women But Not Men

Abstract

The PURPOSE of this study was to examine potential gender and physical activity differences in depression before and during the early stage of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the United States. METHODS: Adults between the ages of 18-75 years currently living in the United States were invited to complete an online survey between April 29, 2020 to June 3, 2020. The Physical Activity Rating Questionnaire (PAR-Q) was used to estimate participants’ physical activity. Participants completed the PAR-Q twice: once in reference to the three months preceding the pandemic (December 2019 - early March 2020), and again in reference to their current physical activity habits. Participants also completed a Profile of Moods Questionnaire short form (POMS) to assess mood, including depression, at the moment of taking the survey. Three-hundred and thirty six participants (women (W) = 260; men (M) = 75; prefer not to state = 2) were included in the analyses. Data is presented as mean ± standard error. RESULTS: Before the pandemic, there was no difference (p > 0.05) between men and women for physical activity (M = 5.3 ± 3.1 vs. W = 5.0 ± 2.8) or depression sum by PAR-Q score. During the pandemic, women reported a higher depression sum than men (M = 4.7 ± 5.4 vs. W = 6.3 ± 5.6; p = 0.0411). Women who decreased physical activity (N = 90) reported a higher depression sum (W = 8.7 ± 6.1) than women who had the same (N = 84; W = 5.5 ± 5.2; p = 0.0014) or increased (N = 86; W = 4.7 ± 4.9; p < 0.001) physical activity. Further, women who decreased physical activity reported higher depression sum than men who decreased physical activity (M = 5.1 ± 5.7 vs. W = 8.7 ± 6.1; p = 0.0408), increased physical activity (M = 4.5 ± 6.7; p = 0.0083), or stayed the same (M = 4.3 ± 3.2; p = 0.0125). There were no changes in depression score in the men (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: A change in change in physical activity affected feelings of depression in women, but not men, in the early phase of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. As this was a cross-sectional study the changes in depression cannot be attributed changes in physical activity, versus changes of other lifestyle events (i.e. child and elder care, etc.) that may lead to a decrease in physical activity. However, it still may underscore the importance of participating in physical activity and/or removing barriers to physical activity during stressful life events.