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Physical Activity and Its Related Factors during the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Germany

Author

Listed:
  • Eszter Füzéki

    (Division of Preventive and Sports Medicine, Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
    Contributed equally.)

  • Jan Schröder

    (Department of Sports Medicine, Faculty for Psychology and Human Movement Science, Institute for Human Movement Science, University of Hamburg, Turmweg 2, 20148 Hamburg, Germany
    Contributed equally.)

  • David A. Groneberg

    (Division of Preventive and Sports Medicine, Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany)

  • Winfried Banzer

    (Division of Preventive and Sports Medicine, Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany)

Abstract

Lockdown measures including the closure of physical activity facilities were installed against the spread of the novel coronavirus in March 2020. The aim of the current online survey was to assess the lockdown effects on physical activity in German adults. We assessed physical activity using the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) questionnaire. Pre-lockdown vs. lockdown differences were tested with the Χ 2 test and the Student’s t -test for paired data. Predictor variables to explain compliance with physical activity recommendations were identified using a fixed effects binary logistic regression analysis. Data of 979 respondents were analyzed. Transport related and leisure time physical activity decreased ( p < 0.001, d = 0.16; p < 0.001, d = 0.22, respectively). Compliance with physical activity recommendations decreased from 38.1% to 30.4% (chi 2 [1, 1958] = 12.754, p < 0.001, V = 0.08). In the regression analysis, BMI (OR 0.944, 95% CI 0.909–0.981; p = 0.003), education (OR 1.111, 95% CI 1.021–1.208; p = 0.015), transport related (OR 1.000, 95% CI 1.000–1.000; p = 0.008) and leisure time physical activity (OR 1.004, 95% CI 1.003–1.004; p < 0.001), muscle strengthening (OR 5.206, 95% CI 4.433–6.114; p < 0.001), as well as the ‘lockdown vs. normal’ categorical variable (OR 0.583, 95% CI 0.424–0.802; p = 0.001) showed a contribution, while sex ( p = 0.152), age ( p = 0.266), work related physical activity ( p = 0.133), and remote working ( p = 0.684) did not. Physical activity declined in German adults, and should also be promoted in light of the emerging evidence on its protective effects of against COVID-19. Special attention should be given to muscle strengthening activities and groups with lower educational attainment.

Suggested Citation

  • Eszter Füzéki & Jan Schröder & David A. Groneberg & Winfried Banzer, 2021. "Physical Activity and Its Related Factors during the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:10:p:5711-:d:558033
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    1. Thomas Hale & Noam Angrist & Rafael Goldszmidt & Beatriz Kira & Anna Petherick & Toby Phillips & Samuel Webster & Emily Cameron-Blake & Laura Hallas & Saptarshi Majumdar & Helen Tatlow, 2021. "A global panel database of pandemic policies (Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker)," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(4), pages 529-538, April.
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    1. Eszter Füzéki & Jan Schröder & Rüdiger Reer & David A. Groneberg & Winfried Banzer, 2021. "Physical Activity and Well-Being during the Second COVID19-Related Lockdown in Germany in 2021," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Eszter Füzéki & Jan Schröder & David A. Groneberg & Winfried Banzer, 2021. "Online Exercise Classes during the COVID-19 Related Lockdown in Germany: Use and Attitudes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-14, July.
    3. Francesca Gallè & Elita Anna Sabella & Paolo Roma & Stefano Ferracuti & Giovanna Da Molin & Giusy Diella & Maria Teresa Montagna & Giovanni Battista Orsi & Giorgio Liguori & Christian Napoli, 2021. "Knowledge and Lifestyle Behaviors Related to COVID-19 Pandemic in People over 65 Years Old from Southern Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-11, October.
    4. Clariano Pires de Oliveira Neto & Rossana Santiago de Sousa Azulay & Ana Gregória Ferreira Pereira de Almeida & Maria da Glória Rodrigues Tavares & Luciana Helena Gama Vaz & Ianik Rafaela Lima Leal & , 2022. "Differences in Puberty of Girls before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-10, April.
    5. Jinjing Ren & Runfa Li & Fengshuo Jia & Xinhao Yang & Yusheng Luo & Chenglin Wu & Wei Wang & Yuan Yang, 2021. "Fine-Granularity Urban Microclimate Monitoring Using Wearable Multi-Source Sensors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-16, December.
    6. Patrick Wilms & Jan Schröder & Rüdiger Reer & Lorenz Scheit, 2022. "The Impact of “Home Office” Work on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-24, September.

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