Abstract
Physical activity (PA) participation was substantially reduced at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between PA, mental health, and wellbeing during and following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom (UK) and New Zealand (NZ). In this study, 3363 adults completed online surveys within 2–6 weeks of initial COVID-19 restrictions (April/May 2020) and once restrictions to human movement had been eased. Outcome measures included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short-Form, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-9 (mental health) and World Health Organisation-5 Wellbeing Index. There were no differences in PA, mental health or wellbeing between timepoints (p > 0.05). Individuals engaging in moderate or high volume of PA had significantly better mental health (−1.1 and −1.7 units, respectively) and wellbeing (11.4 and 18.6 units, respectively) than individuals who engaged in low PA (p < 0.001). Mental health was better once COVID-19 restrictions were eased (p < 0.001). NZ had better mental health and wellbeing than the UK (p < 0.001). Participation in moderate-to-high volumes of PA was associated with better mental health and wellbeing, both during and following periods of COVID-19 containment, compared to participation in low volumes of PA. Where applicable, during the current or future pandemic(s), moderate-to-high volumes of PA should be encouraged.
Highlights
The ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected millions of people worldwide, causing mild to severe respiratory illness and death
Our study demonstrated a stronger association between Physical activity (PA) and mental health (−1.1 units), and between all volumes of PA and wellbeing, in New Zealand (NZ) compared to United Kingdom (UK) respondents
Our study provides meaningful insights into people’s PA behaviours both during, and importantly following, the easing of initial COVID-19 restrictions in different countries
Summary
The ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected millions of people worldwide, causing mild to severe respiratory illness and death. Physical distancing and self-isolation directives, implemented by many national governments to reduce the risk of person-to-person transmission of COVID-19, have been associated with decreased. During the initial COVID-19 containment (lockdown) period, PA decreased by more than 25% [3,4,5,6,7], whilst physical inactivity was associated with a higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes, including hospitalisations, admission to intensive care units and death [8]. Research during the initial COVID-19 containment period has consistently demonstrated an association between reduced PA and poorer mental health [2,4,9]. Given that COVID-19 will be a part of our foreseeable futures, and that we cannot discount the occurrence of future infectious disease pandemics [10], it is prudent that we better understand the impact that restrictions on human movement has on PA patterns and the associations with mental health and wellbeing
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