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The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the resulting outbreak response measures in Germany and worldwide led to severe limitations in everyday life. This affected all sorts of daily activities and the possibility for physical activity (PA), which represents a major coping strategy against stress. The objective of this study was to analyse PA in Germa...
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Citations
... Paavola et al. [55] conducted a longitudinal study and found that smoking and alcohol use were positively correlated, while smoking was negatively correlated with leisure time physical activity. Maertl et al. [56] found a positive relationship between regular light physical activity and higher education, good coping behavior, regular alcohol consumption, and life satisfaction. However, excessive alcohol intake is a public health concern [46-48]. ...
Physical activity (PA) has been shown to be related to physical and mental health. Yet there are few studies on how the frequency of PA relates to health and a healthy lifestyle. We aimed to investigate how the frequency of different PAs is associated with the following health indicators: body mass index (BMI), substance consumption, physical health, and mental health. We focused on three types of PA: (1) medium- to high-intensity aerobic exercise; (2) low- to medium-intensity relaxing exercise; and (3) outdoor leisure PA. A total of 9617 volunteers, aged 19 to 81, participated in the study. The relationships between the frequencies of the three types of PA and health-related and sociodemographic factors were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression. We found that women more frequently engaged in PA type 2, and men in types 1 and 3. A higher frequency of PA was associated with lower BMI and less or no smoking behavior; higher education (PAs 1 and 3); higher age (PAs 2 and 3); better physical health (PAs 1 and 3); and better mental health (PA 3). In conclusion, higher frequency of different PAs was significantly associated with better physical and mental health, less smoking, higher age, and a higher level of education.
... This could be attributed to their greater knowledge and awareness of the benefits of physical and mental health, as well as their potentially more favorable socio-economic status. Conversely, those with lower SES may experience more stress and have less stress resilience, which may impact their ability to engage in physical activity [67]. These results align with a previous Eurobarometer study, which found that higher education levels were associated with increased physical activity among Europeans [68]. ...
Several studies have shown that physical activity (PA) is related to physical and mental health. Yet, there are few studies on the frequency of PA as it relates to health and a healthy lifestyle. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the frequency of practicing different types of physical activities (dependent variables), living a healthy lifestyle (BMI, smoking and alcohol consumption), physical health (sum of all doctor visits except psychiatrists) and mental health (a sum of visits to psychiatrists) at different ages (independent variables). We fo-cused on three types of PA: (1) medium to high-intensity aerobic exercises; (2) low to medium intensity relaxing and stretching exercises, (3) outdoor leisure PA. 9,617 participants (ages: 19 -81) were included in the study (with health registries over a period of 10 years prior to a cross-sectional survey). Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression on frequencies of three types of PA and factors related to health and healthy lifestyles, as well as age and sex, were performed in this study. The results indicate that a higher frequency of practicing PA had a higher probability of association with the following factors: lower BMI, less or non-smoking behavior (types 1 & 3); higher education (types 1 & 2); higher age (types 2 & 3) and better physical health (type 1). Occasional (practicing sometimes) PA, type 2, was positively associated with poorer mental health (higher number of psychiatrist visits). Women were more likely to practice PA type 2, and men – PA types 3 & 1. Conclusion: In general, a higher frequency of PA is related with better health and healthy life styles; with the exception of PA type 2 that is related to poorer mental health.
... People who suffered from symptomatic COVID-19 infection reported the highest prevalence of low PA and those who were asymptomatic reported higher PA levels [101]. Those with higher education, high satisfaction of life, high self-efficacy, and good coping behavior were more likely to meet WHO recommendation of PA during a week [102]. ...
Introduction
Earlier studies demonstrated a decreased level of physical activity (PA) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review the relevant studies among various age groups and explore the impact on physical and mental health.
Methods
We searched and retrieved all relevant articles using the keywords on the online databases of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane from the start of the pandemic until May 3rd, 2021. A two-phase screening process of identified records was carried out to shortlist the most relevant studies. First, the studies were evaluated based on their title/abstract, and then the full-text of included studies was thoroughly read. The eligible studies based on the eligibility criteria were included in this review.
Results
A total of 57 studies were included based on the eligibility criteria. Lockdowns and infection with SARS-CoV-2 have led to a decreased level of PA in the general population compared to the pre-pandemic era. Men had significantly less PA compared to women in some studies, probably due to higher pre-pandemic PA. The level of PA among those with chronic diseases also significantly diminished, putting them at a higher risk of cardiovascular incidents. Sedentary lifestyles have dominated people’s life, including adolescents and university students. The increased levels of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and occupational stress, have been suggested to contribute to the decreased PA. On the other hand, the decreased PA appeared to lead to more mental health issues. Fortunately, the decreasing trend of PA seemed to taper towards the end of the quarantines.
Conclusion
Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent quarantines reduced PA among all age groups and both sexes and had detrimental effects on people's physical and mental health. We suggest countries implement strategies to alleviate restrictions and encourage people to exercise in safe environments and prepare healthy routines for themselves.
... Parents with a higher education level reported preparing more homemade, comforting dishes than before, while parents working from home and parents at home without work had lower motivation to buy convenient food [64]. Among mothers with younger children (<6 years), time for physical activity decreased, while sedentary time increased with children's age [70,71]. ...
Objectives: The aim of this scoping review was to map out the existing evidence of the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on parents of children and adolescents. We sought to: 1) identify parenting domains that were particularly affected by lockdown measures, 2) describe the challenges and opportunities of lockdown measures in these domains, and 3) define protective and exacerbating factors modulating the effect of lockdown measures on parents.
Methods: We identified five main domains investigated in the context of parenting during the early COVID-19 lockdown derived from 84 studies: health and wellbeing, parental role, couple functioning, family and social relationships, and paid and unpaid work. For each domain, we listed challenges and opportunities, as well as discriminant factors.
Results: The lockdown impacted all five different but interconnected domains, introduced new roles in parents’ lives, and particularly affected women and vulnerable populations.
Conclusion: This scoping review highlights the importance of approaching public health policymaking from a social justice perspective. Such an approach argues for social and public health policies to promote health accounting for its social, economic, political, and commercial determinants.
... En el trabajo de Zoyko et al. (2021) se ha encontrado que la conducta sedentaria de los abuelos varones es buena predictora de esa misma conducta en sus nietos y nietas adolescentes (11-14 años); mientras que con la conducta física dinámica no encontraron esa relación. Maertl et al. (2021) ha encontrado que las personas adultas y mayores con menores de 6 años en la familia hacen menos ejercicio físico. ...
La influencia de la pandemia por Covid-19 en las actividades entre abuelos/as y nietos/as, así como su patrón de interacción desigual, según el género de los abuelos, es un campo psicológico de creciente interés. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar las actividades entre un grupo de abuelos varones y sus nietos/as, en el contexto familiar de la pandemia. Han participado 65 abuelos varones que han contestado a una entrevista sobre 60 de sus nietos/as, en relación a sus variables sociodemográficas y sobre 40 actividades compartidas de tipo diná-mico/sedentario, de interior/exterior al hogar; estando solo con sus nietos/as, o con sus nietos/as y con sus esposas, o en ambas situaciones, antes y durante la pandemia. Los datos se analizaron mediante pruebas descriptivas e inferenciales (ANOVA, Friedman). Los resultados muestran que los abuelos varones realizan con sus nietos/as más actividades sedentarias que dinámicas, y más de interior que de exterior; también, esas actividades compartidas se dan más con nietos/as a través de hijas que de hijos. Sobre los tipos de acompañamiento no parecen distinguir entre ellas, y durante la pandemia esas actividades han disminuido notablemente. Se concluye que, ante el decremento general de interacciones y el aumento de actividades sedentarias, hay que proponer un mayor contacto intergeneracional con más actividades dinámicas, por su efecto saludable para ambas generaciones.
... Explanatory factors were included based on previous evidence during the first COVID-19 lockdown periods in the UK and Europe [12,13,20,38,43] and encompassed sociodemographic and lifestyle and health factors. Lastly, exploratory COVID-19 situational factors were also included. ...
... Data were also insensitive for gender (BF = 1.06). Age typically appear to show positive associations, compared to which our data consistently provided evidence of no effect (BF = 0.01) [16,38]. ...
... Females showed lower odds of meeting recommended levels of MVPA, specifically during the period of eased restriction and second lockdown. Increasing age showed differing associations with MVPA and MSA respectively, but Bayes Factors provided evidence for 'no effect' of age on meeting WHO recommended PA levels [38]. Evidence is mixed as to the existence, and possible mediators, of gender-differences in PA engagement during the pandemic [16,56]. ...
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen repeated government enforced restrictions on movement. This study aimed to evaluate longitudinal trends in physical activity (PA) in a self-selected UK-based sample and identify the key correlates of these trends.
Methods
From 23 April 2020 to 30 January 2021, measures of PA engagement were collected in a sample of 1,947 UK-based adults. Generalised estimating equations (GEE) explored trends in PA engagement over time, and how sociodemographic, health and contextual factors impacted participant’s attainment of World Health Organization (WHO) recommended levels of PA (constituting muscle strengthening activity (MSA), and moderate or vigorous PA (MVPA)).
Results
While one in five achieved the recommended levels of PA in the first UK lockdown in April-June 2020 (19.5%, 95%CI: 17.8–21.3%) and a similar proportion in June-July 2020 (17.7%, 95%CI: 16.1–19.5%), this reduced during the period of eased restrictions in August-September 2020 (15.2%, 95%CI: 13.7–16.9%) and the second UK lockdown in November 2020-January 2021 (14.1%, 95%CI: 12.6–15.9%). Similar trends were observed for MSA and MVPA individually. Better quality of life, higher socioeconomic position and pre-COVID-19 PA levels were associated with meeting the WHO recommended levels of PA, while those living with overweight or obesity, a limiting health condition, or isolating showed the inverse associations. Time-specific associations with MSA or MVPA were observed for gender and age.
Conclusion
Reductions in PA levels throughout the first strict lockdown continued without reversal during the ensuing period. The association of negative change with socioeconomic and health-related indices points towards deepening health inequities during the pandemic.
... [1.09-2.25]). This could imply that individuals also engage in good coping strategies besides maladaptive ones [52]. Further research is needed to clarify the relationship between physical activity and AU behaviour and possible mediators. ...
There is little evidence on how different COVID-19 pandemic phases influence the alcohol use behaviour of adults. The objective of this study is to investigate alcohol use frequency over different COVID-19 pandemic phases and to identify vulnerable subgroups for risky use behaviour in the German adult population. Survey waves of 14/15 April 2020 (n = 1032), 23/24 June 2020 (n = 993), and 26/27 January 2021 (n = 1001) from the COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring (COSMO) were analysed. The mean age was 46 ± 15.3 years in April, 46 ± 15.5 years in June, and 45 ± 15.5 years in January. The gender ratio was mostly equal in each survey wave. Descriptive analyses and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses for individuals with increased alcohol use frequency (AUF) were performed. 13.2% in April (lockdown), 11.3% in June (easement), and 8.6% in January (lockdown) of participants showed an increased AUF. Individuals with perceived burden, high frustration levels due to protective measures, and young to middle-aged adults were more likely to increase their AUF during different pandemic phases. In conclusion, unfavourable alcohol behaviour might occur as a potentially maladaptive coping strategy in pandemics. Because of potential negative long-term consequences of problematic alcohol use behaviour on health, public health strategies should consider mental health consequences and target addictive behaviour, while also guiding risk groups towards healthy coping strategies such as physical activities during pandemics/crises.
... Rethinking one's own situation and activities is mentioned by many researchers as a coping factor during the pandemic [33,65,67]. Perceiving restrictions as providing an opportunity to actively do something new [53], changing one's thoughts and approaching the situation with a positive attitude [50], help people overcome stress. It is important to note that these means of coping with stress are most fully represented in qualitative studies. ...
During the COVID-19 pandemic, uncertainty, threat to life, and repeated lockdowns have significantly undermined people’s psychological well-being. In such situations, the basic needs for self-determination (SDT) are disrupted—autonomy, connectedness, and competence—but it is the resulting dissatisfaction that actualizes a search for strategies to cope with the problem. The objective of this article is to critically review the literature on various ways that people are coping with specific experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and their relationship to basic needs to maintain sustainability. We searched on the Web of Science CC database for relevant studies (2020–2021) and their systematization from the standpoint of Self-Determination Theory (SDT). This showed the dynamics of coping methods, reflecting a transition from confusion when confronted with stress, to the selection of effective strategies, confirming that when basic needs are blocked for a long time, people begin to search for a way to satisfy them. We present three levels of grouped coping methods: (1) physiological, (2) behavioral, and (3) cognitive, demonstrating their interrelationship with orientation (to oneself or to the context), assessment (a threat or a challenge), and basic psychological needs. The proposed model opens up prospects for creating effective coping and training programs for sustainable development of the individual in crisis situations.
... [2][3][4] Previous research in various countries such as in Japan, Germany, US, Canada, Indonesia, and perhaps many other countries stated that there was a decrease in the level of physical activity in society, both in children and the elderly during the COVID-19. [5][6][7][8][9] Indonesia applies large-scale social restrictions so that public facilities are limited in number of density and for physical activity facilities such as parks and open spaces are closed. This condition makes people do a lot of activities at home. ...
Background: Physical activity is the right therapy in minimizing the incidence of non-communicable diseases in the community. Physiotherapy has a role in improving body function and movement, one of which is by using physical activity therapy. This study wanted to know the role of physiotherapy in promoting physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: The research design is descriptive quantitative using a questionnaire in order to collect data. The questionnaire consists of 12 statements with Likert scale answers. A total of 42 physiotherapists were selected by simple random sampling spread across developing provinces in Indonesia.Results: During the COVID-19 pandemic, 84% of physiotherapists continued to serve patients, even almost every day. Promotion of physical activity by physiotherapy is better during the COVID-19 pandemic than before the pandemic. The 97% of physiotherapists agreed to promote physical activity. The 66% physiotherapists believe that patients can be motivated to do physical activity if given recommendations by physiotherapists. As many as 79% of physiotherapists have time to provide promotions to their patients. Physiotherapists also stated that 45% of health workers know about physical activity and 66% of physiotherapists believe that clients/patients will do physical activity if recommended by them.Conclusions: It is a necessity for Physiotherapists to always promote physical activity to clients/patients and the wider community.
... Our data suggests that the record high of 712 notified TBE cases in Germany in 2020 may be attributable to significantly more frequent outdoor walks-permitted under COVID-19-related restrictions-compared to 2018-2019. Other studies on changes in physical activity during lockdown reported mixed results [31]. Other factors contributing to high infection rates may have included high tick abundance. ...
In Germany, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) infections mainly occur in southern regions. Despite recent increases in incidence, TBE vaccination coverage remains low, necessitating additional preventive strategies against TBE. Our case-control study in Southern Germany from 2018 to 2020 mapped knowledge/application of tick-protective strategies and identified TBE risk factors. We calculated odds ratios (OR), with 95% confidence intervals (CI). We interviewed 581 cases and 975 matched controls. Most participants recalled lifetime tick bites, mainly while walking, gardening, or hiking. However, only 45% of cases noticed ticks during exposure time; another 12% reported unpasteurized milk intake. While tick-protection knowledge was satisfactory, application lagged behind. Risk factors included dog ownership (OR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.85–3.24), walks ≥ 4×/week (OR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.42–3.12), gardening ≥ 4×/week (OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.11–3.02), and garden proximity < 250 m of forests (OR = 2.54, 95% CI: 1.82–3.56). Applying ≥2 tick-protective strategies (OR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.40–0.68) and keeping lawns mowed (OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.43–0.91) were inversely associated with TBE. In 2020 (likely pandemic-related), cases reported significantly more walks than previously, potentially explaining the record high case numbers. Our findings provide guidance on targets for TBE prevention. Persons with gardens near forests, frequent outdoor activities, or dogs could particularly benefit from targeted information, including on vaccination and preventing tick bites.
