Leisure time sports and exercise activities during the COVID-19 pandemic: a survey of working parents

Protective Role of Regular Physical Activity on Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Understanding the impacts of lifestyle on mental health has become crucial. This study analyzed whether regular physical activity influences mental health indicators related to major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety, and COVID-19-related anxiety and obsession among Brazilian adults during the pandemic. Additionally, social adjustment and health and disability were assessed to measure broader impacts of physical activity on daily functioning and quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic, an anxiogenic period. Participants completed sociodemographic, physical activity, and clinical surveys, along with standardized mental health scales: the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), the Brazilian version of the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS-BR), the COVID-19 Obsession Scale (PB-OCS), the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS), and the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0). Descriptive analysis characterized the sample, while univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses of variance were conducted to explore the influence of physical activity and sex on mental health outcomes. The results indicated that women exhibited poorer mental health outcomes than men across most measures. Engaging in regular physical activity significantly reduced the risk of major depressive disorder in both women and men. Additionally, physically active women-but not men-had a lower likelihood of generalized anxiety and social adjustment impairments. Furthermore, individuals with longer engagement in physical activity (> 5 years) experienced greater mental health benefits compared to those with shorter engagement (< 5 years), particularly for depressive symptoms and generalized anxiety. This study highlights the protective effects of regular physical activity on mental health, with sex-specific differences in its impact. Long-term engagement in physical activity provides greater mental health benefits, reinforcing the importance of promoting sustained participation rather than short-term engagement.

Australian sport and physical activity behaviours pre, during and post-COVID-19

BACKGROUND

Globally, COVID-19 and associated restrictions impacted negatively on recreational physical activity (RPA). Participation in community sport was significantly impacted with cancelled training and competitions. Whilst team and club-based sport participation declined during COVID-19 restrictions, participation in some physical activities actually increased, particularly individual and online activities and outdoor activities not requiring facilities.

AIM

The aim of this study is to investigate changes in the patterns of participation in club-based sport, informal sport and other RPA in Australia from pre, during and post-COVID-19 restrictions. Further, these participation patterns are broken down by gender, age and region of residence.

METHODS

Two longitudinal waves of an online survey were conducted in mid-2020 and mid-2021. The first wave also captured retrospective pre-COVID19 (2019) data. Two sections of the survey dealt respectively with two 'settings' of RPA: organised club sport, and less structured sport and recreational physical activity (designated 'other RPA'). For each year 2019-2021 each individual was categorized as participating (Yes/No) in each of club sport and other RPA. For each setting, the proportions of each pattern of participation were tabulated, and the results for the demographic cohorts were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 1,138 Australians aged 13 years and above completed both waves of the survey. Overall, there were considerable differences between the patterns of club sport and other RPA. Most individuals who participated in other RPA (69%) were able to and did participate continuously throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. However, and not surprisingly, the club-sport participants were forced to drop out in 2020 during COVID-19 restrictions, and less than half reported returning to play post-COVID-19 restrictions. Less than a quarter of sports club participants were able to continue to play throughout COVID-19 and beyond. Significantly more males returned to playing sport 51% than females 44%.

CONCLUSION

Participation in community club-based sport has been significantly negatively impacted by COVID-19, more so than participation in some other recreational sport and physical activities. Further, fewer females than males returned to playing community sport, and priority and specific attention should be given to understanding why women and girls have not returned to playing community club-based sport.

A decade beyond the economic recession: A study of health-related lifestyles in urban and rural Spain (2006-2017)

The 2008 economic recession may have affected health-related indicators differently depending on the living environment. We analyze health-related indicators in Spain using data from four Spanish health surveys (2006, 2011, 2014, and 2017, 95 924 individuals aged ≥16 years). In 2006-2011, physical activity decreased among men and women, while in 2006-2017, physical activity only decreased among urban women. Daily vegetable intake, except in rural women, increased in 2006-2011 but decreased in 2006-2017 in all groups. Smoking decreased among urban women in 2006-2011 and 2006-2014 but only decreased among men, and even increased among rural women, in 2006-2017. In 2006-2017, obesity increased among men and urban women, good self-rated health status increased in all groups and flu vaccination declined. Blood pressure and cholesterol control decreased in urban women in 2006-2011 but increased in 2006-2017 in all groups, as well as mammographic and cytological control. Our findings highlight the differential impact of the economic recession on health-related lifestyles according to sex and place of residence, underscoring the need for targeted health policies to address evolving health disparities over time.

Motivational Profile as a Predictor of Physical Activity Among US Adults During the Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Daily Diary Study

This study used a daily diary approach to examine associations between day-level physical activity (PA) behavior, PA-specific motivational profile, and days since the COVID-19 national emergency declaration during the early months (April-June 2020) of the pandemic. A total of 468 US adults (Mage = 34.8 y, 79% female) participated in a 28-day smartphone-based daily diary study assessing PA. A baseline survey assessed PA and motivation for PA using the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire. Multilevel linear regression models examined the main effects and interactions of motivational profile and time (days since the US March 13, 2020, COVID-19 national emergency declaration) on daily PA minutes. Latent profile analysis identified 4 distinct motivational profiles for PA among this sample: profile 1: high amotivation (n = 100, 21%); profile 2: low controlled motivation (n = 55, 12%); profile 3: high external regulation (n = 47, 10%); and profile 4: moderate autonomous motivation (n = 266, 57%). After controlling for baseline PA, there were significant interactions between profile and time on daily PA (-0.21, P < .01). Profile 2 showed greater decreases in daily PA minutes over time than profile 1 (b = -0.29, P < .01). Profiles 3 and 4 did not indicate significant decreases in PA compared with profile 1 (b = 0.14, P = .31 and b = -0.16, P = .05, respectively). Contrary to previous research, individuals with lower controlled or moderate autonomous motivation demonstrated the largest decreases in PA over time, whereas individuals with higher amotivation or external regulation demonstrated smaller decreases over time. These findings suggest that external motivation may have provided short-term protection against declines in PA observed during early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Comparison of the Impact of COVID-19-Related Restrictions on Physical Activity Among Public Employees

OBJECTIVES

This article compares the impact of COVID-19-related restrictions on the level of physical activity, performed by public servants, in April and November 2020.

METHODS

The survey examined the amount (in minutes per week) and the energy expenditure (in metabolic equivalent of task in minutes per week [METmin/week]) of physical activity for both before and during contact restrictions in April and November 2020, respectively.

RESULTS

Especially for sports activity difference was determined by the medians before (April/November: median [Mdn] = 180.0 min/wk) and during (April: Mdn = 130 minutes, November: Mdn = 60 min/wk) restrictions ( P < 0.05).Also for energy consumption (METmin/wk), the medians before and during the contact restrictions declined for both periods.

CONCLUSIONS

Measures against the coronavirus have led to a reduction in activity levels among public employees, regardless of their work environment. The decrease in participation in sport activities seemed to be even more noticeable within the second restriction period.

Spatial, temporal, and motivational changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic in a nature-based leisure activity - A global survey of birders

Birdwatchers contribute an immense amount of data to citizen science databases. Thus, birding is important from the leisure perspective and from nature conservation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we studied birdwatchers on a global scale in over 50 countries by applying the model of behavior change, which focuses on changes in opportunity (spatial, temporal), motivation, and capability (avoidance behavior). The sample consisted of 5051 participants (3437 men, 1575 women, mean age 49 years). Birders changed their spatial behavior to more local birding and to avoidance behavior by choosing different places and different clock times. Concerning motivation, being outdoors showed the highest increase and being with friends the strongest decrease. Higher specialized birders experienced a stronger shift toward regional birding. Birders that focused on new, local, or unrewarding places experienced an increase in motivation. Our study empirically supports the behavior change model and highlights the need to address the heterogeneity of the recreationists.

Global Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity Habits of Competitive Runners: An Analysis of Wearable Device Data

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in government restrictions that altered the lifestyle of people worldwide. Studying the impact of these restrictions on exercise behaviors will improve our understanding of the environmental factors that influence individuals' physical activity (PA). We conducted a retrospective analysis using an stringency index of government pandemic policies developed by Oxford University and digitally-logged PA data from more than 7000 runners collected using a wearable exercise-tracking device to compare the relationship between strictness of lockdowns and exercise habits on a global scale. Additionally, the time-of-day of PA globally, and activity-levels of PA in 14 countries, are compared between the pre-pandemic year of 2019 and the first pandemic year of 2020. We found that during the pandemic year there was a major shift in the time-of-day that runners exercised, with significantly more activity counts logged during standard working hours on workdays (p < 0.001) and fewer activities during the same time frame on weekends (p < 0.001). Of the countries examined, Italy and Spain had among the most strict lockdowns and suffered the largest decreases in activity counts, whereas France experienced a minimal decrease in activity counts despite enacting a strict lockdown with certain allowances. This study suggests that there are several factors affecting PA of dedicated runners, including government policy, workplace policy, and cultural norms.

Exploring the Impacts of Urban Community Leisure on Subjective Well-Being during COVID-19: A Mixed Methods Case Study

Participating in community leisure activities has become an important way for the public to pursue good health and a high quality of life. However, few studies have focused on the health and welfare effects of participating in urban leisure activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this gap in the literature, this study drew on the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) theory to examine the effects of community leisure on subjective well-being during the pandemic from the perspective of urban residents. A sample of 1041 urban residents in Beijing, China, was empirically analyzed by applying partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The PLS-SEM results revealed the net effects of the pandemic influence, leisure satisfaction, leisure environment, and community identity on subjective well-being. The fsQCA provided causal methods for realizing subjective well-being and a necessary condition analysis supplemented the necessary antecedents. The results showed that (1) higher levels of pandemic influence and leisure environment increased leisure satisfaction; (2) pandemic influence, leisure environment, and leisure satisfaction had a positive effect on community identity; (3) pandemic influence, leisure satisfaction, and community identity also combined with leisure environment and leisure time to positively influence subjective well-being; and (4) leisure satisfaction and community identity mediated the impacts of pandemic influence and leisure environment on subjective well-being. This paper contributes not only to empirical evidence but also to theory by constructing and enriching the research models of community leisure and subjective well-being. The practical implications for the public, community managers, and policymakers are also discussed.

Blessing or Curse?

Mothers have multiple roles. Mothers prepare food, clothe, bathe their kids, clean the house, taking care of their husbands and families. With these, it was already tiring and required proper time management. Working mothers added another responsibility. Some parents would prefer to send their kids to school at an early age. Then COVID-19 hits in 2019 and suddenly everyone is working and studying at home. Is it a blessing to have all the family at home or a curse knowing that another burden will be added to the working mother alone? This chapter investigates how working mothers feel pre and post COVID-19. Thirty-six mothers participated in questionnaires and online pool votes. Results from questionnaires and online polls concluded that most mothers are feeling depressed and stressed during COVID-19, and allowing kindergarten to re-open actually helped working mothers since the burden of educating shifted back to the teacher.

The impact of COVID-19 restrictions on Australians' frequency and duration of participation in different types of sport and physical activity

BACKGROUND

Sports management and public health physical activity stakeholders need to understand changing patterns of participation to inform the development of sport and physical activity opportunities and strategies. This study investigated changes in the frequency and duration of participation in sport and physical activity in Australia from pre-COVID-19 to during-COVID-19, broken down by the specific type of activity and by gender, age and region.

METHODS

During the first pandemic restrictions and lockdowns in Australia in May-June 2020, 6140 survey respondents provided information about the types, frequency and duration of the sport and physical activity they participated in prior to and during COVID-19 restrictions. Differences between mean values were analyzed.

RESULTS

The greatest decline in participation during COVID-19 was in team sports, and the decline was greater for men than for women.

CONCLUSION

How will sport respond to getting these men back in the game, and women back from home-based yoga and Pilates?