TY - JOUR
T1 - Physical activity, mental health and wellbeing of adults within and during the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, in the United Kingdom and New Zealand
AU - Faulkner, James
AU - O'Brien, Wendy
AU - stuart, beth
AU - Stoner, Lee
AU - Batten, John
AU - Wadsworth, Daniel
AU - Askew, Chris
AU - Badenhorst, Claire
AU - Byrd, Erin
AU - Draper, Nick
AU - Elliot, Catherine
AU - Fryer, Simon
AU - Hamlin, Mike
AU - Jakeman, John
AU - Mackintosh, Kelly
AU - McNarry, Melitta
AU - Mitchelmore, Andrew
AU - Ryan-Stewart, Helen
AU - Saynor, Zoe
AU - Schaumberg, Mia
AU - Spiegelhalter, Emily
AU - Stone, Keeron
AU - Lambrick, Danielle
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was funded by the Institute for Life Sciences, and Higher Education Innovation Fund, University of Southampton, UK and the Research and Knowledge Exchange Centre, University of Winchester, UK.
Funding Information:
Funding: This research was funded by the Institute for Life Sciences, and Higher Education Inno‐ vation Fund, University of Southampton, UK and the Research and Knowledge Exchange Centre, University of Winchester, UK.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2022/2/4
Y1 - 2022/2/4
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Coronavirus disease
KW - Depression
KW - Exercise
KW - Lifestyle behaviour change
KW - Lockdown
KW - Pandemic
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85123954957&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1792
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/550a87e5-fa13-3d24-8fd7-5ead90edd642/
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph19031792
DO - 10.3390/ijerph19031792
M3 - Article
VL - 19
SP - 1792
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
SN - 1661-7827
IS - 3
M1 - 1792
ER -