Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Swedish Population Study

Abstract

Governments have enforced measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 with varying degrees of success, which could affect people’s physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior. This study aimed to examine changes in PA levels, types of PA, and sedentary behavior in the Swedish population before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Associations between changed PA levels and demographical and behavioral determinants were also investigated. In December 2020, 1035 individuals (18–79 years old) completed a survey about their PA and sedentary behavior before and during the pandemic. Factors influencing their PA were also explored. Fifty-one percent of the sample reported reduced total PA, 18% had no change, and 31% increased their PA. Overall, organized PA decreased the most and sedentary behavior increased. The youngest and oldest age groups reported the greatest reduction in PA, while middle-aged groups reported the most increased PA. Men reported a larger increase in sedentary behavior than women. Mental and physical capability was associated with change in PA. In conclusion, this study indicates that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of the Swedish population have decreased PA levels with a concurrent increase in sedentary behavior, which may have negative health consequences. Interventions are recommended to address both PA and sedentary behavior, specifically to strengthen people’s ability to perform PA and focusing on the youngest and oldest age groups.

How Have Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior, Changed during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Swedish Repeated Cross-Sectional Design Study

“…The aim was to examine whether the observed reduction in PA and increase in SB described in Elvén’s study (2022) had remained or changed one year later in a Swedish population [ 32 ]. Furthermore, associations between PA and SB with sex, age, occupation, life satisfaction, COVID-19 history, health, and weight change were investigated.…”

“…In addition, in the 2020 survey, the participants were asked to retrospectively self-report the same items about PA and SB during a normal week in December 2019, which was one year before the current time as well as three months before the WHO declared a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Data from 2019 and 2020 have been published by this research group, and this is a follow-up study to that article [ 32 ].…”

“…This repeated cross-sectional design study is a follow-up study where Elvén’s data have been supplemented with another measurement in 2022 using the same instrument [ 32 ]. The study aimed to examine the changes in PA and SB levels in a Swedish population over time at three time points: before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, and during the pandemic in 2020 and 2022.…”

Estimating time-dependent infectious contact: a multi-strain epidemiological model of SARS-CoV-2 on the island of Ireland

“…Of most relevance to COVID-19 in 2022, our model lacks human age structure and vaccination: these omissions give rise to certain limitations. For example, hospitalisation risks increase with age while older individuals adjust their behaviour differently from young counterparts [46]. Thus ignoring the age structure may bias our estimate of infectious contact estimated from hospitalisation data.…”

Associations between sedentary behavior and negative emotions in adolescents during home confinement: Mediating role of social support and sleep quality

“…The lack of space limited the possibilities to conduct specific forms of PA (including planned and structured forms of PA also referred to as physical exercises) during home confinement and thus contributed to an increase in sedentary behavior. Although the lockdown during the pandemic negatively influenced the health of all age groups ( Eedera et al, 2022 ; Haque et al, 2022 ; Katewongsa et al, 2021 ; Luijten et al, 2021 ; Marcos-Pardo et al, 2022 ; Morgul et al, 2020 ; Runacres et al, 2021 ; Tulchin-Francis et al, 2021 ; Wilson et al, 2020 ),there was evidence that adolescents were more severely affected by the COVID-19-related public health actions ( Elvén et al, 2022 ; D. C. Paterson et al, 2021 ; Wilke et al, 2021 ; Xiang et al, 2020 ) and further evidence suggests that adolescents were more affected than younger or older adults, although the latter finding is not universal ( Elvén et al, 2022 ; Runacres et al, 2021 ; Wilke et al, 2021 ). In the literature, it has been emphasized that adolescents are a vulnerable and key age group that deserves more research attention ( Runacres et al, 2021 ).…”