Changes in Sitting Time, Screen Exposure and Physical Activity during COVID-19 Lockdown in South American Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The worldwide prevalence of insufficient physical activity (PA) and prolonged sedentary behavior (SB) were high before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Measures that were taken by governments (such as home confinement) to control the spread of COVID-19 may have affected levels of PA and SB. This cross-sectional study among South American adults during the first months of COVID-19 aims to (i) compare sitting time (ST), screen exposure, moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (VPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) before and during lockdown to sociodemographic correlates and (ii) to assess the impact of lockdown on combinations of groups reporting meeting/not-meeting PA recommendations and engaging/not-engaging excessive ST (≥7 h/day). Bivariate associations, effect sizes, and multivariable linear regressions were used. Adults from Argentina (n = 575) and Chile (n = 730) completed an online survey with questions regarding demographics, lifestyle factors, and chronic diseases. Mean reductions of 42.7 and 22.0 min./day were shown in MPA and VPA, respectively; while increases of 212.4 and 164.3 min./day were observed in screen and ST, respectively. Those who met PA recommendations and spent <7 h/day of ST experienced greatest changes, reporting greater than 3 h/day higher ST and more than 1.5 h/day lower MVPA. Findings from the present study suggest that efforts to promote PA to South American adults during and after COVID-19 restrictions are needed.

Associations between Physical Activity, Sitting Time, and Time Spent Outdoors with Mental Health during the First COVID-19 Lock Down in Austria

“…Studies from various countries have shown that during the COVID-19 pandemic physical activity (PA) decreased while sedentary behaviour increased. This was shown in various cross-sectional studies worldwide [4][5][6][7][8][9][10], and confirmed by several review articles [11,12]. Similar to international trends, studies from Austria have shown that during the COVID-19 pandemic, PA levels decreased by up to 48.9% [12,13].…”

“…Beck Depression Inventory (BDI): Originally, the level of depression is categorized into four types using the validated German version of BDI [31]; no depression (scores 0-9), mild (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18), moderate (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29), and severe depression (30-63) [32]. In our analysis individuals scoring between 10-63 points were described as exhibiting symptoms of depression.…”

Laboured reading and musculoskeletal pain in school children - the role of lifestyle behaviour and eye wear: a cross-sectional study

“…Globally, children and adolescents have increasingly adopted a more sedentary lifestyle, and they have become more occupied with digital devices in pace with the digital revolution during the last 30–40 years [ 1 ]. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has, for many individuals, led to detriments in physical activity and a further increase in sedentary behaviour and use of near digital devices [ 2 , 3 ]. Sedentary behaviour increases from childhood to adulthood [ 4 ].…”

Association between the Physical Activity Behavioral Profile and Sedentary Time with Subjective Well-Being and Mental Health in Chilean University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Currently, multinational studies in the COVID-19 context, carried out in different latitudes worldwide including Latin America and Chile, report a negative impact of the pandemic on levels of physical activity and sedentary time, being related to a worse mental health in the adult population [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ]. These findings also apply to the university population.…”