Depression, anxiety, stress, and physical activity of Australian adults during COVID-19: A combined longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional study
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to a worsening of mental health and health behaviors. While physical activity is positively associated mental health, there is limited understanding of how mental health and physical activity evolve throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.962962/full |
| _version_ | 1811243209429352448 |
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| author | Wei Zhao Corneel Vandelanotte Saman Khalesi Stephanie J. Alley Sue L. Williams Tanya L. Thwaite Andrew S. Fenning Robert Stanton Quyen G. To |
| author_facet | Wei Zhao Corneel Vandelanotte Saman Khalesi Stephanie J. Alley Sue L. Williams Tanya L. Thwaite Andrew S. Fenning Robert Stanton Quyen G. To |
| author_sort | Wei Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to a worsening of mental health and health behaviors. While physical activity is positively associated mental health, there is limited understanding of how mental health and physical activity evolve throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine changes in depression, anxiety and stress and physical activity, and associations between depression, anxiety, and stress with physical activity in Australian adults across three-time points during the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and methodsThis study collected both longitudinal and cross-sectional data at three-time points during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia (i.e., April, July/August, and December 2020). Australians aged 18 years and over were invited to complete online surveys hosted on Qualtrics survey platform. Linear mixed models with random subject effect and general linear models were used to analyze the longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional data respectively.ResultsThe number of participants in cross-sectional surveys and longitudinal surveys was 1,877 and 849, respectively. There was an overall reduction between time 2 vs. time 3 in depression (d = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.20, 1.85), anxiety (d = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.02, 1.12), and stress (d = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.21, 2.04) scores but no significant differences in physical activity across three-time points. On average, participants who met the physical activity guidelines had lower depression (d = −2.08, 95% CI = −2.90, −1.26), anxiety (d = −0.88, 95% CI = −1.41, −0.34), and stress (d = −1.35, 95% CI = −2.13, −0.56) scores compared to those not meeting the guidelines.ConclusionIn the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, both governments and service providers should continue to provide the public with timely mental health support and promote the benefits of physical activity, as a cost-effective strategy to improve mental health and wellbeing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T14:03:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aba76ba068ca4cef8d2c02c943572423 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T14:03:32Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-aba76ba068ca4cef8d2c02c9435724232022-12-22T03:30:08ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782022-10-011310.3389/fpsyg.2022.962962962962Depression, anxiety, stress, and physical activity of Australian adults during COVID-19: A combined longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional studyWei Zhao0Corneel Vandelanotte1Saman Khalesi2Stephanie J. Alley3Sue L. Williams4Tanya L. Thwaite5Andrew S. Fenning6Robert Stanton7Quyen G. To8Physical Activity Research Group, School for Health Medical and Applied Science, Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, AustraliaPhysical Activity Research Group, School for Health Medical and Applied Science, Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, AustraliaPhysical Activity Research Group, School for Health Medical and Applied Science, Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, AustraliaPhysical Activity Research Group, School for Health Medical and Applied Science, Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, AustraliaPhysical Activity Research Group, School for Health Medical and Applied Science, Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, AustraliaPhysical Activity Research Group, School for Health Medical and Applied Science, Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, AustraliaPhysical Activity Research Group, School for Health Medical and Applied Science, Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, AustraliaCluster for Resilience and Wellbeing, School for Health Medical and Applied Science, Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, AustraliaPhysical Activity Research Group, School for Health Medical and Applied Science, Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, AustraliaBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to a worsening of mental health and health behaviors. While physical activity is positively associated mental health, there is limited understanding of how mental health and physical activity evolve throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine changes in depression, anxiety and stress and physical activity, and associations between depression, anxiety, and stress with physical activity in Australian adults across three-time points during the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and methodsThis study collected both longitudinal and cross-sectional data at three-time points during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia (i.e., April, July/August, and December 2020). Australians aged 18 years and over were invited to complete online surveys hosted on Qualtrics survey platform. Linear mixed models with random subject effect and general linear models were used to analyze the longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional data respectively.ResultsThe number of participants in cross-sectional surveys and longitudinal surveys was 1,877 and 849, respectively. There was an overall reduction between time 2 vs. time 3 in depression (d = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.20, 1.85), anxiety (d = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.02, 1.12), and stress (d = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.21, 2.04) scores but no significant differences in physical activity across three-time points. On average, participants who met the physical activity guidelines had lower depression (d = −2.08, 95% CI = −2.90, −1.26), anxiety (d = −0.88, 95% CI = −1.41, −0.34), and stress (d = −1.35, 95% CI = −2.13, −0.56) scores compared to those not meeting the guidelines.ConclusionIn the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, both governments and service providers should continue to provide the public with timely mental health support and promote the benefits of physical activity, as a cost-effective strategy to improve mental health and wellbeing.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.962962/fullmental healthDASS-21exerciseCOVID-19 pandemicdepressive symptomsanxiety |
| spellingShingle | Wei Zhao Corneel Vandelanotte Saman Khalesi Stephanie J. Alley Sue L. Williams Tanya L. Thwaite Andrew S. Fenning Robert Stanton Quyen G. To Depression, anxiety, stress, and physical activity of Australian adults during COVID-19: A combined longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional study Frontiers in Psychology mental health DASS-21 exercise COVID-19 pandemic depressive symptoms anxiety |
| title | Depression, anxiety, stress, and physical activity of Australian adults during COVID-19: A combined longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Depression, anxiety, stress, and physical activity of Australian adults during COVID-19: A combined longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Depression, anxiety, stress, and physical activity of Australian adults during COVID-19: A combined longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Depression, anxiety, stress, and physical activity of Australian adults during COVID-19: A combined longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Depression, anxiety, stress, and physical activity of Australian adults during COVID-19: A combined longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | depression anxiety stress and physical activity of australian adults during covid 19 a combined longitudinal and repeated cross sectional study |
| topic | mental health DASS-21 exercise COVID-19 pandemic depressive symptoms anxiety |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.962962/full |
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