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Associations between Physical Activity, Sitting Time, and Time Spent Outdoors with Mental Health during the First COVID-19 Lock Down in Austria

Author

Listed:
  • Sandra Haider

    (Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Lee Smith

    (Centre for Health, Performance and Wellbeing, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK)

  • Lovro Markovic

    (Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
    Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Felipe B. Schuch

    (Department of Sports Methods and Techniques, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, Brazil)

  • Kabir P. Sadarangani

    (Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Salud y Odontología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago 8370179, Chile
    Department of Kinesiology, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago 7500912, Chile)

  • Guillermo Felipe Lopez Sanchez

    (Vision and Eye Research Institute, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK)

  • Rubén Lopez-Bueno

    (Department of Physical Medicine and Nursing, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain)

  • Alejandro Gil-Salmerón

    (International Foundation for Integrated Care, Oxford OX2 6UD, UK)

  • Anita Rieder

    (Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Mark A. Tully

    (Institute of Mental Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Ulster University, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, UK)

  • Lena Tschiderer

    (Clinical Epidemiology Team, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Lisa Seekircher

    (Clinical Epidemiology Team, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Peter Willeit

    (Clinical Epidemiology Team, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
    Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB1 8RN, UK)

  • Igor Grabovac

    (Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

Measures implemented to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 have resulted in a decrease in physical activity (PA) while sedentary behaviour increased. The aim of the present study was to explore associations between PA and mental health in Austria during COVID-19 social restrictions. In this web-based cross-sectional study (April–May 2020) moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sitting time, and time spent outdoors were self-reported before and during self-isolation. Mental well-being was assessed with the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, and the Beck depression and anxiety inventories. The majority of the participants ( n = 652) were female (72.4%), with a mean age of 36.0 years and a standard deviation (SD) of 14.4. Moreover, 76.5% took part in ≥30 min/day of MVPA, 53.5% sat ≥10 h/day, and 66.1% spent ≥60 min/day outdoors during self-isolation. Thirty-eight point five percent reported high mental well-being, 40.5% reported depressive symptoms, and 33.9% anxiety symptoms. Participating in higher levels of MVPA was associated with higher mental well-being (odds ratio = OR: 3.92; 95% confidence interval = 95%CI: 1.51–10.15), less depressive symptoms (OR: 0.44; 95%CI: 0.29–0.66) and anxiety symptoms (OR = 0.62; 95%CI: 0.41–0.94), and less loneliness (OR: 0.46; 95%CI: 0.31–0.69). Participants sitting <10 h/day had higher odds of mental well-being (OR: 3.58; 95%CI: 1.13–11.35). Comparable results were found for spending ≥60 min/day outdoors. Maintaining one’s MVPA levels was associated with higher mental well-being (OR = 8.61, 95%CI: 2.68–27.62). In conclusion, results show a positive association between PA, time spent outdoors and mental well-being during COVID-19 social restrictions. Interventions aiming to increase PA might mitigate negative effects of such restrictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Sandra Haider & Lee Smith & Lovro Markovic & Felipe B. Schuch & Kabir P. Sadarangani & Guillermo Felipe Lopez Sanchez & Rubén Lopez-Bueno & Alejandro Gil-Salmerón & Anita Rieder & Mark A. Tully & Lena, 2021. "Associations between Physical Activity, Sitting Time, and Time Spent Outdoors with Mental Health during the First COVID-19 Lock Down in Austria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-12, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:17:p:9168-:d:626019
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fei Qin & Yiqing Song & George P Nassis & Lina Zhao & Yanan Dong & Cuicui Zhao & Yiwei Feng & Jiexiu Zhao, 2020. "Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Emotional Well-Being during the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-16, July.
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    Cited by:

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    2. David Jungwirth & Chiara Amelie Weninger & Daniela Haluza, 2021. "Fitness and the Crisis: Impacts of COVID-19 on Active Living and Life Satisfaction in Austria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-13, December.
    3. David Jungwirth & Daniela Haluza, 2023. "Sports and the Pandemic: The Impact of COVID-19 on Active Living and Life Satisfaction of Climbers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, January.
    4. Daniel Reyes-Molina & Jesús Alonso-Cabrera & Gabriela Nazar & Maria Antonia Parra-Rizo & Rafael Zapata-Lamana & Cristian Sanhueza-Campos & Igor Cigarroa, 2022. "Association between the Physical Activity Behavioral Profile and Sedentary Time with Subjective Well-Being and Mental Health in Chilean University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-15, February.

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