Ontario adults’ health behaviors, mental health, and overall well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract Background Public health measures such as physical distancing and work-from-home initiatives have been implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19. These measures may also be associated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, which could be particularly problematic for those already at highest r...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11732-6 |
| _version_ | 1818736647088373760 |
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| author | Katie J. Shillington Leigh M. Vanderloo Shauna M. Burke Victor Ng Patricia Tucker Jennifer D. Irwin |
| author_facet | Katie J. Shillington Leigh M. Vanderloo Shauna M. Burke Victor Ng Patricia Tucker Jennifer D. Irwin |
| author_sort | Katie J. Shillington |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Public health measures such as physical distancing and work-from-home initiatives have been implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19. These measures may also be associated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, which could be particularly problematic for those already at highest risk for losing years of healthy life due to chronic disease (i.e., 30–59-year-olds). The purpose of this paper is two-fold: (1) to provide an overview of Ontario adults’ health behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and dietary intake), mental health, and well-being during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic (April–July 2020); and (2) to explore the difference between physical activity and various health behaviors (i.e., well-being, mental health, and dietary intake). Methods As a part of a larger, longitudinal study, participants completed an online survey that included demographic information, the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, Starting the Conversation, the Mental Health Inventory, and the Personal Wellbeing Index-Adult. Data analyses involved computing measures of central tendency and dispersion for demographic characteristics and tools followed by descriptive statistics. Separate independent t-tests were conducted to investigate the difference between physical activity status and well-being, mental health, and dietary intake. Results A total of 2157 Ontarians completed an online survey. Descriptive statistics indicated that respondents met physical activity and sedentary behavior guidelines, reported double the amount of recommended recreational screen time, practiced moderately healthy dietary behaviors, experienced mental health problems, and scored below “normal” in some well-being domains. Conclusion As the end of the COVID-19 pandemic is currently unknown, its associated restrictions and society changes may influence adults’ behaviors in both the short- and longer-term. As such, our findings might provide immediate insight into the development of timely and evidence-informed health promotion and disease prevention strategies for Canadians, which could support adults’ health behaviors, mental health, and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and other, future pandemics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T00:40:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f641cdeffa5e457f91b2387b0ae6ee41 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T00:40:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-f641cdeffa5e457f91b2387b0ae6ee412022-12-21T21:26:54ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582021-09-0121111510.1186/s12889-021-11732-6Ontario adults’ health behaviors, mental health, and overall well-being during the COVID-19 pandemicKatie J. Shillington0Leigh M. Vanderloo1Shauna M. Burke2Victor Ng3Patricia Tucker4Jennifer D. Irwin5Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western OntarioSchool of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western OntarioHealth and Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western OntarioSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western OntarioHealth and Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western OntarioHealth and Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western OntarioAbstract Background Public health measures such as physical distancing and work-from-home initiatives have been implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19. These measures may also be associated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, which could be particularly problematic for those already at highest risk for losing years of healthy life due to chronic disease (i.e., 30–59-year-olds). The purpose of this paper is two-fold: (1) to provide an overview of Ontario adults’ health behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and dietary intake), mental health, and well-being during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic (April–July 2020); and (2) to explore the difference between physical activity and various health behaviors (i.e., well-being, mental health, and dietary intake). Methods As a part of a larger, longitudinal study, participants completed an online survey that included demographic information, the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, Starting the Conversation, the Mental Health Inventory, and the Personal Wellbeing Index-Adult. Data analyses involved computing measures of central tendency and dispersion for demographic characteristics and tools followed by descriptive statistics. Separate independent t-tests were conducted to investigate the difference between physical activity status and well-being, mental health, and dietary intake. Results A total of 2157 Ontarians completed an online survey. Descriptive statistics indicated that respondents met physical activity and sedentary behavior guidelines, reported double the amount of recommended recreational screen time, practiced moderately healthy dietary behaviors, experienced mental health problems, and scored below “normal” in some well-being domains. Conclusion As the end of the COVID-19 pandemic is currently unknown, its associated restrictions and society changes may influence adults’ behaviors in both the short- and longer-term. As such, our findings might provide immediate insight into the development of timely and evidence-informed health promotion and disease prevention strategies for Canadians, which could support adults’ health behaviors, mental health, and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and other, future pandemics.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11732-6Physical activitySedentary behaviorDietWell-beingMental healthCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | Katie J. Shillington Leigh M. Vanderloo Shauna M. Burke Victor Ng Patricia Tucker Jennifer D. Irwin Ontario adults’ health behaviors, mental health, and overall well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic BMC Public Health Physical activity Sedentary behavior Diet Well-being Mental health COVID-19 |
| title | Ontario adults’ health behaviors, mental health, and overall well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Ontario adults’ health behaviors, mental health, and overall well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Ontario adults’ health behaviors, mental health, and overall well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ontario adults’ health behaviors, mental health, and overall well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Ontario adults’ health behaviors, mental health, and overall well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | ontario adults health behaviors mental health and overall well being during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | Physical activity Sedentary behavior Diet Well-being Mental health COVID-19 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11732-6 |
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