The Use of Digital Platforms for Adults’ and Adolescents’ Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Our Life at Home): Survey Study

Abstract

Background Government responses to managing the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the way individuals were able to engage in physical activity. Digital platforms are a promising way to support physical activity levels and may have provided an alternative for people to maintain their activity while at home. Objective This study aimed to examine associations between the use of digital platforms and adherence to the physical activity guidelines among Australian adults and adolescents during the COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions in April and May 2020. Methods A national online survey was distributed in May 2020. Participants included 1188 adults (mean age 37.4 years, SD 15.1; 980/1188, 82.5% female) and 963 adolescents (mean age 16.2 years, SD 1.2; 685/963, 71.1% female). Participants reported demographic characteristics, use of digital platforms for physical activity over the previous month, and adherence to moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) and muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE) guidelines. Multilevel logistic regression models examined differences in guideline adherence between those who used digital platforms (ie, users) to support their physical activity compared to those who did not (ie, nonusers). Results Digital platforms include streaming services for exercise (eg, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook); subscriber fitness programs, via an app or online (eg, Centr and MyFitnessPal); facilitated online live or recorded classes, via platforms such as Zoom (eg, dance, sport training, and fitness class); sport- or activity-specific apps designed by sporting organizations for participants to keep up their skills (eg, TeamBuildr); active electronic games (eg, Xbox Kinect); and/or online or digital training or racing platforms (eg, Zwift, FullGaz, and Rouvy). Overall, 39.5% (469/1188) of adults and 26.5% (255/963) of adolescents reported using digital platforms for physical activity. Among adults, MVPA (odds ratio [OR] 2.0, 95% CI 1.5-2.7), MSE (OR 3.3, 95% CI 2.5-4.5), and combined (OR 2.7, 95% CI 2.0-3.8) guideline adherence were higher among digital platform users relative to nonusers. Adolescents’ MVPA (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.3), MSE (OR 3.1, 95% CI 2.1-4.4), and combined (OR 4.3, 95% CI 2.1-9.0) guideline adherence were also higher among users of digital platforms relative to nonusers. Conclusions Digital platform users were more likely than nonusers to meet MVPA and MSE guidelines during the COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions in April and May 2020. Digital platforms may play a critical role in helping to support physical activity engagement when access to facilities or opportunities for physical activity outside the home are restricted.

Social media use informing behaviours related to physical activity, diet and quality of life during COVID-19: a mixed methods study

“…In relation to the characteristics of social media use that inform behaviour change, this study adds new understandings on the value of using social media for information and interaction [ 5 , 13 – 16 , 18 , 31 ]. New evidence is provided on: (i) the format, content, and source of health-related social media information that participants engage with and use; and (ii) the perceived value of the immediacy of interaction in relation to social dimensions associated with QoL.…”

“…These lifestyle changes may have led to changes in health behaviours and the use of social media. Furthermore, a plethora of freely accessible health information (such as workouts and recipes) was shared through social media during COVID-19 lockdown periods, and this had the potential to improve individuals’ self-perceptions of their Quality of Life (QoL) through supporting their engagement with typical lifestyle behaviours, albeit online [ 30 , 31 ]. Evidence generated during COVID-19 lockdown periods of 2020 has reported on a general tendency for technology and social media use to increase [ 26 – 28 ], and overall physical activity levels and high quality nutritional intake to decline [ 23 , 29 , 32 , 33 ].…”

“…However, the evidence is not definitive, and there is some evidence to suggest that physical activity and diet-related health behaviours improved [ 25 , 32 ]. The contextual factors that influence social media use, physical activity and diet-related behaviours for diverse groups are also unclear in current studies, and there is limited evidence on the relationships between social media use and health-related behaviour change related to physical activity, diet and quality of life [ 25 , 29 , 31 , 32 ].…”

Physical activity and medication in Brazilians suffering with non-communicable diseases in quarantine by COVID-19

“…Therefore, the digital platforms that offer a streaming service such as Instagram®, Youtube® and Facebook®, fitness app with the aim of promoting physical activity and the classes taught by physical education teachers through online applications such as the Zoom® where students connect via the internet and vigorously use physical exercise. 17 The strategy of using digital media and applications has been successful according to the participation of participants in their research during the COVID-19 pandemic at the beginning of the month April and May 2020. However, as noted, digital platforms have a great performance in helping and assisting in the practice of physical activity at home.…”

Lessons learned from a home-based exercise program for adolescents with pre-existing chronic diseases during the COVID-19 quarantine in Brazil

“…This program was offered in two intensitiesbeginner and intermediateaccording to the patient's previous experience with the exercise, and its complexity. In addition, studies have shown that digital platforms can increase adolescents' adherence to aerobic and strengthening exercises during lockdown by four times compared to non-users (23).…”