Physical activity and active recreation before and during COVID-19: The Our Life at Home study

Lauren Arundell, Jo Salmon, Anna Timperio, Shannon Sahlqvist, Riaz Uddin, Jenny Veitch, Nicola D Ridgers, Helen Brown, Kate Parker, Lauren Arundell, Jo Salmon, Anna Timperio, Shannon Sahlqvist, Riaz Uddin, Jenny Veitch, Nicola D Ridgers, Helen Brown, Kate Parker

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the effects of COVID-19 related 'lockdown restrictions' on Australian's (5-75 years) physical activity recommendation achievement and active recreation participation.

Design: Cross-sectional online survey with self and proxy-report items (where the participant was a parent).

Methods: Adults (n = 1360) and adolescents (n = 1292) reported the frequency they performed 30- or 60-min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), muscle-strengthening exercises, and participation in 11 active recreation behaviours in February 2020 (pre-COVID-19) and in April/May (during lockdown restrictions). Parents also proxy-reported activity for their child (n = 147, 5-12 years). Mixed effects logistic regressions or a logistic regression (with robust sandwich estimation for variance) assessed recall differences pre- and during lockdown, and interaction by sex.

Results: Compared to February, in April/May children were less likely to meet MVPA recommendations (OR = 0.27, 95%CI = 0.12-0.64); adolescents males, but not females, were less likely to meet MVPA (OR = 0.71, 95%CI 0.43, 1.17) and both recommendations (OR = 0.12, 95%CI = 0.02, 0.79); and adults were more likely to meet MVPA (OR = 1.26, 95%CI = 1.01, 1.57) but less likely to meet muscle-strengthening exercise recommendations (OR = 0.76, 9%CI = 0.65, 0.89). Across age groups more participants reported walking, muscle strengthening exercises at home, and yoga/Pilates/stretching at home, and fewer performed informal sport practice and play, and recreational activities.

Conclusions: Lockdown restrictions had different effects on physical activity and active recreation among age groups and by sex. Physical activity promotion strategies that target children and adolescents, at home physical activity options, active neighbourhoods, and (re)engagement in informal sport and recreational activities post-COVID-19 are critical for (re)engaging Australians in health-enhancing behaviours.

Keywords: Australia; Health policy; Lockdown restriction; Public health; walking.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

References

    1. Davies C.A., Vandelanotte C., Duncan M.J., et al. Associations of physical activity and screen-time on health related quality of life in adults. Prev Med. 2012;55(1):46–49. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.05.003.
    1. Poitras V.J., Gray C.E., Borghese M.M, et al. Systematic review of the relationships between objectively measured physical activity and health indicators in school-aged children and youth. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2016;41(6 (Suppl. 3)):S197–S239. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2015-0663.
    1. Sallis J.F., Adlakha D., Oyeyemi A., et al. An international physical activity and public health research agenda to inform coronavirus disease-2019 policies and practices. J Sport Health Sci. 2020;9(4):328–334. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2020.05.005.
    1. World Health Organisation . 2010. Global recommendations on physical activity for health. Switzerland.
    1. Australian Government Department of Health . Commonwealth Department of Health. Commonwealth of Australia; Canberra, Australia: 2019. Australia's physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines and the Australian 24-hour movement guidelines.
    1. Okely A.D., Olds T., Jones R., et al. Commonwealth of Australia; 2019. Australian 24-hour movement guidelines for children (5 to 12 years) and young people (13 to 17 years): an integration of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep. (Report prepared for the Australian Government Department of Health).
    1. Brown W., Bauman A., Bull F., et al. Commonwealth of Australia; 2012. Development of evidence-based physical activity recommendations for adults (18–64 years) (Report prepared for the Australian Government Department of Health).
    1. Guthold R., Stevens G.A., Riley L.M., et al. Worldwide trends in insufficient physical activity from 2001 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 358 population-based surveys with 1.9 million participants. Lancet Glob Health. 2018;6(10):e1077–e1086. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30357-7.
    1. Australian Bureau of Statistics . 2020. National Health Survey: First Results 2017–18. Cat no. 4364.0.55.001. Canberra: 2019.
    1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare . 2018. Physical activity across the life stages. Cat. no. PHE 225. Canberra.
    1. Australian Government Department of Health . Commonwealth Department of Health. Australian Government Department of Health; Canberra, Australia: 2014. Australia’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines - Adults (18–64 years)
    1. Australian Government Department of Health . Commonwealth Department of Health. Australian Government Department of Health; Canberra, Australia: 2014. Australia's Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines - Older Adults (65+ years)
    1. Guan H., Okely A.D., Aguilar-Farias N., et al. Promoting healthy movement behaviours among children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2020;4(6):416–418. doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30131-0.
    1. Ridgers N.D., Timperio A., Crawford D., et al. Five-year changes in school recess and lunchtime and the contribution to children’s daily physical activity. Br J Sports Med. 2012 doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2011.084921.
    1. Arundell L., Hinkley T., Veitch J., et al. Contribution of the after-school period to Children’s daily participation in physical activity and sedentary Behaviours. PLoS One. 2015;10(10) doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140132.
    1. van Sluijs E.M.F., Fearne V.A., Mattocks C., et al. The contribution of active travel to children’s physical activity levels: cross-sectional results from the ALSPAC study. Prev Med. 2009;48(6):519–524. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2009.03.002.
    1. Australian Bureau of Statistics . Commonwealth of Australia; Canberra, Australia: 2019. National Health Survey: First Results, 2017–18. Cat no 4364.0.55.001.
    1. Ainsworth B.E., Li F. Physical activity during the coronavirus disease-2019 global pandemic. J Sport Health Sci. 2020;9(4):291–292. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2020.06.004.
    1. Chen P., Mao L., Nassis G.P., et al. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): The need to maintain regular physical activity while taking precautions. J Sport Health Sci. 2020;9(2):103–104. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2020.02.001.
    1. Stockwell S., Trott M., Tully M., et al. Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: a systematic review. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2021;7(1) doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000960.
    1. Maugeri G., Castrogiovanni P., Battaglia G., et al. The impact of physical activity on psychological health during Covid-19 pandemic in Italy. Heliyon. 2020;6(6) doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04315.
    1. Munasinghe S., Sperandei S., Freebairn L., et al. The impact of physical distancing policies during the COVID-19 pandemic on health and well-being among Australian adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2020;67(5):653–661. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.08.008.
    1. Gallo L.A., Gallo T.F, Young S.L., et al. The impact of isolation measures due to COVID-19 on energy intake and physical activity levels in Australian university students. Nutrients. 2020;12(6):1865. doi: 10.3390/nu12061865.
    1. Ridgers N.D., Timperio A., Crawford D., et al. Validity of a brief self-report instrument for assessing compliance with physical activity guidelines amongst adolescents. J Sci Med Sport. 2012;15(2):136–141. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2011.09.003.
    1. Milton K., Bull F.C., Bauman A. Reliability and validity testing of a single-item physical activity measure. Br J Sports Med. 2011;45(3):203. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2009.068395.
    1. Moore S.A., Faulkner G., Rhodes R.E., et al. Impact of the COVID-19 virus outbreak on movement and play behaviours of Canadian children and youth: a national survey. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2020;17(1):85. doi: 10.1186/s12966-020-00987-8.
    1. Farooq A., Martin A., Janssen X., et al. Longitudinal changes in moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2020;21(1) doi: 10.1111/obr.12953.
    1. Australian Bureau of Statistics . Commonwealth of Australia; Canberra: 2013. Australian Health Survey: Physical Activity, 2011–12. cat no. 4364.0.55.004.
    1. Smith L., Jacob L., Butler L., et al. Prevalence and correlates of physical activity in a sample of UK adults observing social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2020;6(1) doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000850.
    1. Lewis B.A., Williams D.M., Frayeh A., et al. Self-efficacy versus perceived enjoyment as predictors of physical activity behaviour. Psychol Health. 2016;31(4):456–469. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2015.1111372.
    1. Glover T.D. Neighboring in the time of coronavirus? Paying civil attention while walking the neighborhood. Leis Sci. 2020:1–7. doi: 10.1080/01490400.2020.1774014.
    1. Laverty A.A., Millett C., Majeed A., et al. COVID-19 presents opportunities and threats to transport and health. J R Soc Med. 2020;113(7):251–254. doi: 10.1177/0141076820938997.
    1. Australian Bureau of Statistics . 2019. Australian Demographic Statistics, 3101.0. Canberra, Australia.

Source: PubMed

Patrocinadores e Colaboradores

Condições médicas

Intervenções de drogas

3
Se inscrever