Lockdown Orders Research Articles

The Effect of COVID‐19 Lockdown on Dementia Caregivers in the U.S.

AbstractBackgroundIn response to the COVID‐19 pandemic, mandated state lockdowns in the U.S. profoundly changed day‐to‐day life for many individuals providing informal care for a person with dementia or mild cognitive impairment. The present study explored changes in caregiver burden, depression, and anxiety associated with lockdown.MethodWe used questionnaire data collected as part of a randomized controlled trial conducted between February 2019 ‐ June 2021. Participants (N = 260 familial caregivers for people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment living in the US) completed a baseline survey at the start of the study and follow‐up surveys every three months for six‐nine months. Questionnaires included the Zarit Burden Index, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. We determined the date of lockdown based on the first lockdown order issued in the participant’s state of residence. For each survey score, we also determined the number of days before or after the lockdown date.ResultThe mean age of caregivers in the sample was 63.93 years and 68% were female. A regression predicting caregiver burden from the days before/after lockdown revealed that burden decreased over time, (β = ‐0.008, p = .051). Consistent with this, comparing the average of all scores obtained after lockdown with those obtained before lockdown indicated that burden decreased during lockdown, (t(172) = ‐2.52, p = .013). Levels of caregiver anxiety and depression were not associated with days before/after lockdown and did not change from before lockdown to after lockdown (p’s >.05).ConclusionSurprisingly, caregivers in our sample experienced a decrease in burden associated with COVID lockdown. We believe this may result from lockdown providing relief from caregivers’ other responsibilities (e.g., being able to work from home, reduced social obligations). The lack of changes in anxiety and depression may reflect this as well, with these areas of relief offsetting some of the stresses that would normally result in worsening mood for caregivers. In future research we hope to further explore these complex relationships among lockdown, burden, depression, and anxiety.

Covid-19 Protocol: Attitude and Practice among Business Entrepreneurs in Southwest Nigeria

Measures taken to curtail the spread of the Covid-19 virus in Nigeria were very stringent. The lockdown, among others, affected businesses and households, as individuals found ways to cope with the measures. This study used the qualitative method to collect data from 30 participants in Lagos and Ibadan, and purposive sampling was used among consenting participants. The in-depth interview guide was used in data collection. The data were analyzed using NVivo 12 plus. Findings show the effect of lockdown order on daily life, family, and income flow. Compliance with Covid-19 protocol was differentiated, as most of the participants comply with the lockdown order but had difficulties with facemasks and physical/social distances order. We recommend that to halt other waves of Covid-19, the preventive protocol should be adhered to. Keywords: Covid-19, Lockdown, Perception, Protocol, Southwest Nigeria.

Environmental mastery and purpose of life during COVID-19-related lockdown: A study deepening the role of personal and community resilience.

COVID-19 outbreak and the measures needed to contain its first wave of contagion produced broad changes in citizens' daily lives, routines, and social opportunities, putting their environmental mastery and purpose of life at risk. However, these measures produced different impacts across citizens and communities. Building on this, the present study addresses citizens' understanding of the rationale for COVID-19-related protective measures and their perception of their own and their community's resilience as protective dimensions to unravel the selective effect of nationwide lockdown orders. An online questionnaire was administered to Italian citizens during Italian nationwide lockdown. Two moderation models were performed using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) path analysis. The results show that the understanding of the rationale for lockdown only associated with citizens' purpose of life and that it represented a risk factor rather than a protective one. Furthermore, the interaction effects were significant only when community resilience was involved. That is, personal resilience did not show the expected moderation effect, while community resilience did. However, the latter varied between being either full or partial depending on the dependent variable. In light of the above, the theoretical and practical implications of these results will be discussed.

Memes from confinement

Abstract Memes have been described as textual forms of “(post)modern folklore” (Shifman, 2014: 5). Photos or short videos, they highlight current cultural phenomena, and they spread exponentially through person-to-person sharing on social media platforms. For this article, I created a corpus of memes that circulated in March 2020, during the first weeks after statewide lockdown orders were issued in the U.S. in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on Bakthin’s (1981) concept of the chronotope, I analyze a subset of these memes that specifically addressed the experience of time in confinement, illuminating two interrelated trends: the disruption of temporal order in the present and the projection of chronotopes of hindsight in which this present gets resolved as past. Through detailed textual analysis, I show that the memes reveal both a widespread sense of disorientation and a corollary impulse to mitigate it through the imagination of spatiotemporal realms. I argue that such chronotopic projections can serve as a response to temporary but profound uncertainty, caused in this case by the public health crisis in its initial stages.

Social distancing and local bias

This study investigates the effect of social distancing on the local bias of institutional investors. Using SafeGraph’s Social Distancing Metrics data and SEC’s EDGAR 13F filings, we find that stay-at-home duration ratio decreases institutional investors’ local holdings and firms’ institutional ownership in the U.S. We also exploit the lockdown orders across various states during the COVID-19 pandemic as exogenous shocks to conduct the stacked regression estimation, which yields a similar result. Our channel analysis using abnormal return indicates that social distancing mitigates local bias by constraining the information advantage of local investors rather than alleviating their cognitive bias.

Impacts of Vaccination on International Trade During the Pandemic Era.

This paper examines how COVID-19 vaccinations change international trade. We analyze monthly level trade data from January 2020 to March 2022 that cover the bilateral exports from 40 reporting countries to 220 partner countries. Our findings can be summarized as follows. On average, the effects of vaccination rates in importing and exporting countries on exports were found to be insignificant. When considering the income level, we also did not find significant effects of vaccination rates in high- and low-income importing countries on exports. In contrast, the rise of vaccination rates in low-income exporting countries significantly increased their exports though no significant increase in exports was detected when vaccination rates rose in high-income exporting countries. These results imply that since low-income countries are mainly engaged in labor-intensive industries, the relaxation of lockdown orders (i.e., movement and gathering restrictions) driven by the rise of vaccination rates plays a crucial role in production activities in low-income countries.

Hazard communication through telephone interpreters during the pandemic in Spain: the case of COVID-19 tracer calls

ABSTRACT This contribution addresses the telephone calls from coronavirus tracers to patients mediated by interpreters through the analysis of a series of real conversations during the communication of PCR tests results, hazards of this situation, hygiene instructions, lockdown orders, and related health issues. The focus will be on culture-related aspects of the communication related to the perception of risk and the asymmetry of knowledge, as reflected on the discourse of the tracers and the responses from patients (many of them immersed in situations of helplessness, unemployment, mental disorders, indigence or simply defiance against legal and health restrictions), as well as on the mechanisms that interpreters use to bridge communication. Critical incident analysis will be used as a methodological approach to select, analyse, and reflect on examples, to be able, not only to offer objective results about the characteristics of the discourse and the nature of the mechanisms used by interpreters, but also to provide criticism and suggestions for the interpreting practice.

Influence of Food Purchase Behaviour on Diet Quality of University Athletes during COVID-19 Lockdown

Lockdown order during the COVID-19 pandemic creates new norms of lifestyle, including food accessibility. To understand whether this situation might affect food purchase behaviour (FPB) and diet quality in exceptional people such as athletes, online FPB and diet quality index-international (DQI-I) questionnaires were distributed to 299 university athletes but only 195 responded. The survey found FPB score of respondents was 63.3±14.1, whereas the DQI-I score was 61.8±13.2. A strong relationship between FPB and DQI-I scores, r(193) = .64, p<.00001, was determined. FPB and DQI-I were not affected by gender, age and college seniority differences. Keywords: Food purchase behaviour, diet quality index, athletes, COVID-19 eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7iSI7%20(Special%20Issue).3823

Potentially avoidable interfacility transfers following reduced emergency department volumes due to COVID-19 “Safer-at-Home” orders

ObjectivesWe sought to assess if a state-wide lockdown implemented due to COVID-19 was associated with increased odds of being a potentially avoidable transfer (PAT). MethodsWe conducted a retrospective observational analysis using hospital administrative data of interfacility ED-to-ED transfers to a single, quaternary care adult ED after “Safer at Home” orders were issued March 23rd, 2020 in [Blinded for submission]. Using the PAT classification to identify transfers rapidly discharged from the ED or hospital and may not require in-person care, we used a multivariable logistic regression model to examine the association of the lockdown order with odds of a transfer being a PAT. We compared the period January 1, 2018 to March 23, 2020 with March 24, 2020 to September 30, 2020, adjusting for seasonality, patient, and situational factors. ResultsThere were 20,978 ED-to-ED transfers from during this period that were eligible and 4806 (23%) that met PAT criteria. While the first month post-lockdown saw a decrease in PATs (28%), this was not sustained. In the multivariable model there was a significant seasonal effect; May through September had the highest number of transfers as well as PATs. After adjusting for seasonality, the lockdown was not associated with PATs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.99, 95% CI 0.2, 5.2) and PATs decreased over time. ConclusionsWe did not find an effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on PATs though there was a considerable seasonal effect and an overall downward trend in PATs over time.

Economic resilience in times of public health shock: The case of the US states

Does adopting social distancing policies amid a health crisis, e.g., COVID-19, hurt economies? Using a machine learning approach at the intermediate stage, we applied a generalized synthetic control method to answer this question. We utilize state policy response differences. Cross-validation, a machine learning approach, is used to produce the “counterfactual” for adopting states—how they “would have behaved” without lockdown orders. We categorize states with social distancing as the treatment group and those without as the control. We employ the state time-period for fixed effects, adjusting for selection bias and endogeneity. We find significant and intuitively explicable impacts on some states, such as West Virginia, but none at the aggregate level, suggesting that social distancing may not affect the entire economy. Our work implies a resilience index utilizing the magnitude and significance of the social distancing measures to rank the states' resilience. These findings help governments and businesses better prepare for shocks.

Mental Health Risk Factors and Coping Strategies among Students in Asia Pacific during COVID-19 Pandemic-A Scoping Review.

The impact of COVID-19 has forced higher education institutes to go into lockdown in order to curb the situation. This sudden change caused students within the institutions to forgo traditional face to face classroom settings and to attend immediate online classes. This review aims to summarize the evidence of the social demographic mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students in higher education institutes within the Asia Pacific region and identify the coping mechanisms adopted during these times. A systematic literature search was conducted using three databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus), out of which 64 studies met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The findings revealed that the social demographic groups most at risk were female students, those who were in the final years of their studies (i.e., students who were almost graduating), and postgraduate students as well as students studying medical fields (nursing, dental, medicine, health sciences etc.). The majority of the studies identified that students were relying on mobile devices and extended screen time to cope with the pandemic. Having proper social support, be it through a network of friends or positive family cohesion, can be a good buffer against the mental impacts of COVID-19. Students in higher education institutes are at risk of mental consequences due to COVID-19. By reducing their screen time, finding a healthier coping system, increasing the availability of support within the family and community, as well as actively engaging in beneficial activities students may be able to alleviate general negative emotions, specifically during the pandemic.

Decreases in scabies and lice cases among the pediatric and adult populations during COVID-19.

The influence of the nationwide lockdown orders during the COVID-19 pandemic on the transmission of scabies and lice remains unknown. We conducted a cross-sectional study utilizing UNC patient registry i2b2 to investigate monthly cases and prescriptions for scabies and lice in adult and pediatric patients in North Carolina. There were significant decreases in the cases and prescriptions for scabies and lice in the pediatric and adult populations. These results provide early insights on how COVID-19 pandemic lockdown orders affected the prevalence of these two conditions and suggest that physical distancing measures reduce transmission of these parasitic conditions.

Measurement report: The importance of biomass burning in light extinction and direct radiative effect of urban aerosol during the COVID-19 lockdown in Xi'an, China

Abstract. Due to the complexity of emission sources, a better understanding of aerosol optical properties is required to mitigate climate change in China. Here, an intensive real-time measurement campaign was conducted in an urban area of China before and during the COVID-19 lockdown in order to explore the impacts of anthropogenic activities on aerosol light extinction and the direct radiative effect (DRE). The mean light extinction coefficient (bext) decreased from 774.7 ± 298.1 Mm−1 during the normal period to 544.3 ± 179.4 Mm−1 during the lockdown period. A generalised additive model analysis indicated that the large decline in bext (29.7 %) was due to sharp reductions in anthropogenic emissions. Chemical calculation of bext based on a ridge regression analysis showed that organic aerosol (OA) was the largest contributor to bext in both periods (45.1 %–61.4 %), and the contributions of two oxygenated OAs to bext increased by 3.0 %–14.6 % during the lockdown. A hybrid environmental receptor model combined with chemical and optical variables identified six sources of bext. It was found that bext from traffic-related emissions, coal combustion, fugitive dust, the nitrate and secondary OA (SOA) source, and the sulfate and SOA source decreased by 21.4 %–97.9 % in the lockdown, whereas bext from biomass burning increased by 27.1 %, mainly driven by the undiminished need for residential cooking and heating. An atmospheric radiative transfer model was further used to illustrate that biomass burning, rather than traffic-related emissions, became the largest positive effect (10.0 ± 10.9 W m−2) on aerosol DRE in the atmosphere during the lockdown. Our study provides insights into aerosol bext and DRE from anthropogenic sources, and the results imply the importance of controlling biomass burning for tackling climate change in China in the future.

Enforcement of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown orders in Nigeria: Evidence of public (non)compliance and police illegalities

Given the public resentment that trailed the unprecedented lockdown order enforced as a public health emergency control strategy to contain the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, this study explored citizens' compliance with the order and how its enforcement occasioned illegal police practices in Nigeria. With a qualitative approach, this study recruited 90 participants using varieties of sampling methods to understand public behaviour and police conduct in the enforcement of the order. From the insights gathered with a semi-structured interview and analysed with the thematic analysis method, the study observed that economic hardship, unavoidable matters from the citizens’ end and mistrust of authorities fueled non-compliance. Such mistrust amplified misinformation during the pandemic. Although there was a reasonable level of compliance, the pre-existing police illegalities (extortion and bribery) facilitated the cases of non-compliance in Nigeria. Also, hostility ensued between police personnel and citizens during the enforcement of the lockdown. Therefore, this study advised the government and stakeholders on the imperatives of adequate socio-economic preparations, emphasising public trust and the provision of relief materials. Additionally, it suggested to the police authorities reform ideas to better equip, monitor, and manage police resources for effective handling of future pandemics.

Adherence to Urological Therapies for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Due to Benign Prostatic Enlargement During COVID-19 Lockdown

BackgroundDue to the pandemic emergency caused by COVID-19, many countries were forced to apply a variety of measures such as quarantine and full national lockdown in order to contain the contagion. Medication adherence to chronic diseases may have been negatively influenced by restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study is to investigate adherence to urological therapies of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) during the COVID-19 lockdown period.MethodsIn this cohort study, we included a total of 151 male patients who were prescribed medications for LUTSs/benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) between January 2019 and December 2020. The prescriptive data of the following medications were collected: alpha-blockers (AB), 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs), 5-phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE5-i), antimuscarinics, and phytotherapy (i.e., Serenoa repens). According to adherence or discontinuation of therapy, patients were divided into two groups: those who took their medications for a minimum of 6 months during the index period were considered in the “Medication adherence group” and those whose treatment was considered “discontinued” if it was interrupted for a 1-month period.ResultsOverall, the median age was 69.0 (interquartile range [IQR]: 63.0–74.0), the median International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) before the lockdown was 15.0 (IQR: 11.0–18.0), and the median IPSS–quality of life (IPSS-QoL) before the lockdown was 2.0 (IQR: 2.0–3.0). During the lockdown, 19 patients (12.58%) stopped taking their medications due to the pandemic situation: six (31.58%) stopped phytotherapy, two stopped AB+phytotherapy (10.53%), five stopped AB (26.32%), three stopped 5-ARIs (15.79%), one stopped antimuscarinics (5.26%), and two stopped other combination therapies (p < 0.01). Among the patients who stopped therapy, five (26.31%) reported the presence of worsening symptoms (score ≥ 3), while 14 (73.69%) reported the absence of worsening symptoms (score < 3). During the lockdown, five (3.31%) patients required hospitalization: three (1.99%) for acute urinary retention and two (1.32%) for urinary tract infection.ConclusionsThe rate of medication adherence for LUTSs/BPE during COVID-19 was 86.75%, but 13.25% of the patients had their treatments interrupted due to the pandemic situation. This rate determined a slight increase in symptoms with a potential impact on hospitalization. These results should be taken into account in order to develop adequate strategies in telehealth to maintain medication adherence for chronic diseases.

“Life Turned Upside Down”: State of Mind and Mental Health During COVID-19

On the February 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) gave the name of COVID-19 to a new coronavirus that had not been previously identified in humans. Although the virus began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, within weeks it spread worldwide to almost every continent. This virus is part of an ongoing pandemic that causes severe acute respiratory symptoms. Many countries went into complete lockdown in order to contain the proliferation of this virus. This lockdown due to the widespread pandemic experienced for the first time in a century worldwide, triggered concern, fear, anxiety and stress, all of which are expected and normal reactions to the altering and uncertain state that people found themselves undergoing. Some of the main concerns facing many was how to manage and react to the stressful situation of coronavirus, how to remain confined at home, and how to handle the unfolding narrative so rapidly unfolding in the lives within communities-lives that had been “turned upside down” in a matter of a few weeks. This research looks at the state of mind of citizens in four continents: Africa, Australia, Europe, and India, of the world during lockdown. It also explores whether a novel illness such as COVID-19 can cause mental health issues, widespread fear, and anxiety, among people and the manner in which they deal with this. As the world deals with the physical health, financial, and social consequences of the pandemic, which has claimed many lives, the mental health impact and implications cannot to be ignored.

241-LB: Significant Worsening of Preexisting Obesity in South Texas Children during COVID-19 Lockdown

Background: Obesity has been on the rise for the past several decades, which is associated with increased risk for comorbidities and severe consequences to the individual. In the Mexican American community, obesity has become a serious problem in children. The COVID-19 lockdown order issued in February 2020 caused further challenges for children to engage in regular physical activity. Objective: To determine if the COVID-19 lockdown impacted the weight of 95% Medicaid-insured Mexican American children at a pediatric clinic in South Texas. Design and Methods: We identified 417 new patients from March 2019 to February 2020 (with exclusion of 104 newborns) and followed them until December 2021. Height and weight were measured to estimate Body Mass Index (BMI) . The percentage of overweight or obese (OW/OB) children was calculated at the first and last visit. Results: We had a total of 346 children at the end of the study. The average stature of the whole group was at the 48th percentile with 60% of the children at or below the 50th percentile based on CDC growth charts. Boys increased BMI from the 62.7th to 71.8th percentile (p<0.01) and girls increased from the 60th to the 70th percentile (p<0.02) . The distribution of BMI of the whole group indicated that 34.5% of children were OW/OB on the first visit and 49% were OW/OB at the last visit. Conclusion (s) : Our study exemplifies that the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was associated with decreased physical activity, increased the BMI of children and increased associated comorbidities based on lab values. We have shown in previous studies that when BMI is in the OW/OB category, children have increased blood pressure, decreased high density lipoproteins, elevated liver enzymes, increased insulin resistance, larger kidneys, and fatty liver. These indicators place children at a higher risk for early development of hypertension, renal function decline, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Disclosure F. J. Cervantes: None.

Changes in patterns of plastic surgery emergencies at a level I trauma center in India during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had major effects worldwide, including sudden and forceful setbacks to the healthcare system. The COVID-19 pandemic has also led to changes in the plastic and reconstructive management of emergency cases, including those due to road traffic accidents. This study analyzed changes in patterns of plastic surgery emergencies and modifications in consultation policies to minimize the exposure of healthcare workers. Data on plastic surgery emergency calls received from the trauma and emergency department were collected for a period of 2 months before and during lockdown. The data were then analyzed with respect to the cause, mechanism, and site of the injury, as well as other variables. During lockdown, there was a 40.4% overall decrease in the plastic surgery emergency case volume (168 vs. 100). The average daily number of consultations before lockdown was 2.8 as compared to 1.6 during lockdown. Road traffic accidents remained the most common mechanism of injury in both groups (45.8% vs. 39.0%) but decreased in number during the lockdown (77 vs. 39). Household accidents, including burns, were the second most common cause of injury in both phases (7.7% vs. 20.0%), but their proportion increased significantly from 7.7.% to 20.0% in the lockdown phase (P=0.003). The percentage of minor procedures done in the emergency department increased from 53.5% to 72.0% during lockdown (P=0.002). Procedures in the operating room decreased by 73.1% during lockdown (67 vs. 18, P=0.001). The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown orders in India greatly influenced trends in traumatic emergencies as observed by the plastic surgery team at our tertiary care center. Amidst all the chaos and limitations of the pandemic period, providing safe and prompt care to the patients presenting to the emergency room was our foremost priority.

Socio-Economic Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Nigerian Worker: An Empirical Analysis

The current study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on workers in Nigeria from a socioeconomic standpoint. Nigeria remains one of the most highly affected countries on the African continent; hence the Nigerian government has emulated other countries in taking measures to curtail the spread of the pandemic. These measures include but are not limited to lockdown orders, due to which individuals stop going to work, as well as the closure of factories and businesses. The lockdown order has been applauded for being effective in curtailing the spread of the virus; however, it is deemed to adversely affect the Nigerian workers in both the public and private sectors. Many authors have contributed to literature related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is still a paucity of literature investigating the socio-economic effect of the lockdown order on Nigerian workers. To the best of our knowledge, there is no empirical study that investigates the COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic impact on civil servants and bankers. The study adopted a survey research design and primary data gathered through the survey was analyzed. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire, which was filled in online using Google Forms. The collected data was analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and t-test statistical tools. The findings of the study revealed that COVID-19 has an inverse and minimal effect on the socio-economic condition of public and private sector workers. The research proposed, among other things, that the government should place mechanisms to curb excessive price increase of products and services, ensuring that workers in both the public and private sectors are not exploited during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Body Composition Changes in College Athletes during the COVID-19 Lockdown.

In the spring of 2020, COVID-19 shocked the college sports world with athletes having seasons abruptly canceled and sent home under mandatory lockdown orders. Athletes and athletic performance staff had no idea when they would be back on campus or have access to on-campus athletics facilities. This situation caused substantial concern regarding potential adverse changes to athletic performance and body composition in the athletes. The purpose of this study is to assess how weight, muscle mass, and fat mass changed in collegiate athletes while they were prohibited from using on-campus athletic facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Body weight, fat mass, and muscle mass were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis as part of routine care for 77 collegiate athletes (n = 43 male, n = 34 female) pre-lockdown (Jan 2020) and shortly after their return to on-campus training (Aug/Sept 2020). 4 questions were asked to assess eating behavior and physical activity. Pre- and post-lockdown body composition data and survey data were analyzed using ANOVA and ANCOVA (SAS 9.4). To account for differences in body size, height was used to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI), Fat Mass Index (FMI), and muscle mass index (MMI) for assessing changes in weight, fat mass, and muscle mass, respectively. No significant differences by sex in BMI or MMI were detected between pre and post lockdown. FMI changed according to sex, males lost FMI and females gained FMI. These data demonstrate potential sex differences in fat mass changes among college athletes during a mandatory absence from on-campus athletic facilities and in-person support from coaching and performance staff. Future research should determine whether future breaks - either anticipated or unanticipated-influence body composition and what the drivers of changes in body composition may be. Such research may help to develop sex-specific strategies for maintaining optimal body composition and athletic performance during extended breaks from structured athletic training.