Changes in physical activity and sedentary time in United States adults in response to COVID-19.
Physical activity is associated lower risk for a broad range of non-communicable diseases and early mortality, and even small changes in daily activity levels could have a profound effect on public health at the population level. The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped daily life for United States (US) adult...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2022-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273919 |
| _version_ | 1828111416273403904 |
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| author | Charles E Matthews Pedro Saint-Maurice Janet E Fulton Shreya Patel Erikka Loftfield Joshua N Sampson Sarah K Keadle David Berrigan |
| author_facet | Charles E Matthews Pedro Saint-Maurice Janet E Fulton Shreya Patel Erikka Loftfield Joshua N Sampson Sarah K Keadle David Berrigan |
| author_sort | Charles E Matthews |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Physical activity is associated lower risk for a broad range of non-communicable diseases and early mortality, and even small changes in daily activity levels could have a profound effect on public health at the population level. The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped daily life for United States (US) adults resulting in reductions in physical activity early in the pandemic, but its longer-term effects on daily activities are unknown. To examine the longer-term impact of the pandemic on daily activity levels, we conducted a nationwide longitudinal study of 1,635 adults (20-75 years) in AmeriSpeak. Previous-day recalls of time-use, sedentary time, and physical activity were completed on randomly selected days in Fall 2019 (pre-pandemic) and Fall 2020. Overall, US adults reported less time in transportation (-0.47 hrs/d), more total discretionary time (0.40 hrs/d), but no changes in total sedentary time (0.10 hrs/d) or leisure-time physical activity (-0.06 hrs/d). Women reported significantly less total activity (-0.36 hrs/d) and participants with children < 13 yrs reported more sedentary time (0.60 to 0.82 hrs/d) and less moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity (-0.84 to -0.72 hrs/d). Adults without children reported no changes in sedentary time (0.02 hrs/d) or moderate-vigorous intensity activity (-0.06 hrs/d). Adults who started working from home reported no changes in physical activity, but they were among the most sedentary and least active population groups at both timepoints. Our findings describe the complex inter-play between competing behaviors as time-use demands have changed in response to the pandemic, particularly for adults with younger children. Many US adults are likely to continue working from home; therefore, implementation of evidence-based approaches to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary time in this growing population subgroup appears warranted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:35:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4e409539b6b94b7595bffe7ebc47a9e6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T11:35:38Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-4e409539b6b94b7595bffe7ebc47a9e62022-12-22T04:26:00ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-01179e027391910.1371/journal.pone.0273919Changes in physical activity and sedentary time in United States adults in response to COVID-19.Charles E MatthewsPedro Saint-MauriceJanet E FultonShreya PatelErikka LoftfieldJoshua N SampsonSarah K KeadleDavid BerriganPhysical activity is associated lower risk for a broad range of non-communicable diseases and early mortality, and even small changes in daily activity levels could have a profound effect on public health at the population level. The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped daily life for United States (US) adults resulting in reductions in physical activity early in the pandemic, but its longer-term effects on daily activities are unknown. To examine the longer-term impact of the pandemic on daily activity levels, we conducted a nationwide longitudinal study of 1,635 adults (20-75 years) in AmeriSpeak. Previous-day recalls of time-use, sedentary time, and physical activity were completed on randomly selected days in Fall 2019 (pre-pandemic) and Fall 2020. Overall, US adults reported less time in transportation (-0.47 hrs/d), more total discretionary time (0.40 hrs/d), but no changes in total sedentary time (0.10 hrs/d) or leisure-time physical activity (-0.06 hrs/d). Women reported significantly less total activity (-0.36 hrs/d) and participants with children < 13 yrs reported more sedentary time (0.60 to 0.82 hrs/d) and less moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity (-0.84 to -0.72 hrs/d). Adults without children reported no changes in sedentary time (0.02 hrs/d) or moderate-vigorous intensity activity (-0.06 hrs/d). Adults who started working from home reported no changes in physical activity, but they were among the most sedentary and least active population groups at both timepoints. Our findings describe the complex inter-play between competing behaviors as time-use demands have changed in response to the pandemic, particularly for adults with younger children. Many US adults are likely to continue working from home; therefore, implementation of evidence-based approaches to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary time in this growing population subgroup appears warranted.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273919 |
| spellingShingle | Charles E Matthews Pedro Saint-Maurice Janet E Fulton Shreya Patel Erikka Loftfield Joshua N Sampson Sarah K Keadle David Berrigan Changes in physical activity and sedentary time in United States adults in response to COVID-19. PLoS ONE |
| title | Changes in physical activity and sedentary time in United States adults in response to COVID-19. |
| title_full | Changes in physical activity and sedentary time in United States adults in response to COVID-19. |
| title_fullStr | Changes in physical activity and sedentary time in United States adults in response to COVID-19. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in physical activity and sedentary time in United States adults in response to COVID-19. |
| title_short | Changes in physical activity and sedentary time in United States adults in response to COVID-19. |
| title_sort | changes in physical activity and sedentary time in united states adults in response to covid 19 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273919 |
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