SHORT TERM ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL DISTANCING ON MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DURING COVID-19

Abstract

A societal “lockdown” began in early 2020 in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic to slow the rate of transmission. Many states adopted social distancing and social isolation practices. Loneliness has been shown to be a significant burden on society during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been associated with poor mental health outcomes. Loneliness and poor mental health have been shown to increase behaviors that promote sedentary behavior and decrease physical activity. PURPOSE: To examine changes in psychological health and physical activity over 8 weeks during “lockdown” in response to COVID-19. METHODS: 90 individuals answered questions regarding their loneliness, depression, mood state, and physical activity over four time points each lasting two weeks. RESULTS: Time point (TP) 2, approximately 1 month into “lockdown”, showed the most significant effects on depression (26.33 ± 3.86) compared to TP 1 (17.31 ± 10.53, p < 0.001), TP 3 (16.11 ± 11.94, p < 0.001), and TP 4 (14.27 ± 10.86, p < 0.001), and TP 4 had the lowest total mood disturbance (35.92 ± 19.8) compared to TP 1 (41.05 ± 18.24, p < 0.05), TP 2 (43.26 ± 18.31, p < 0.01), and TP 3 (39.70 ± 19.71, p < 0.05). Self-reported symptoms of depression were seen in 100% of the sample population during TP 2. There were no significant changes in physical activity over 8 weeks (p > 0.05). Loneliness, depression, and mood state were negatively associated with participation in physical activity. Total mood disturbance was negatively associated with total physical activity at TP 1 (r = -0.24, p < 0.05), TP 2 (r = -0.28, p < 0.05) and TP 3 (r = -0.25, p < 0.05). Depression was negatively associated with total physical activity during TP 3 (r = -0.25, p < 0.05), TP 4 (r = -0.24, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Social isolation and social distancing practices had a negative effect on depression, and mood. Depressive symptoms were much higher than average compared to previous epidemiological data. Depression and total mood disturbance were highest during TP two possibly due to ambiguity and loneliness from social distancing. While physical activity was unchanged throughout the study, less people participated in the recommended physical activity guidelines. This study supports the connection between mental health and physical activity.