Physical Activity Behavior During and After COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Orders—A Longitudinal Study in the Austrian, German, and Italian Alps

Abstract

BackgroundIn Alpine regions, which are very similar due to their topographical location and their wide-ranging sports offerings, the restrictions on sports activities during the COVID-19 pandemic differed in type and level: while in some regions (Tyrol, South Tyrol, Trentino), all sports activities were forbidden except for walking near the home, in other regions (Upper Bavaria, Vorarlberg), people were allowed to go hiking and running during the first lockdown.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the change in physical activity (PA) behavior in different Alpine regions (Upper Bavaria, Vorarlberg, Tyrol, South Tyrol, Trentino) over four periods in 2020, to examine the effects of COVID-19 measures of varying severity on PA behavior and to identify factors associated with a change in PA over time.MethodsA retrospective online survey was conducted (N = 2975) from December 2020, to January 2021. Using the questionnaire of the Eurobarometer 472 study, PA behavior was measured over four periods: before COVID-19 (March), during the first lockdown (March and April), during the relaxed period (May-October) and during the second lockdown (November and December) in 2020.ResultsDuring the first (M = 5.0h, SD = 4.5) and the second lockdowns (M = 4.9h, SD = 4.3), the participants (age: 42 years, overly active in sports) engaged less in sports than before (M = 5.9h, SD = 4.8) and during the relaxed period in summer (M = 6.4h, SD = 5.0) (average number of hours per week being physically active). A larger percentage of participants from Alpine regions with severe restrictions (Tyrol, South Tyrol, Trentino) decreased their PA during the first lockdown as compared to participants from Upper Bavaria and Vorarlberg with a less strict first lockdown. Those with psychological distress, male participants, and individuals with decreased physical health and less free time during COVID-19 were more likely to reduce their PA.ConclusionsDespite a short-term negative effect of COVID-19 restrictions on exercise participation during lockdowns, the majority of respondents returned to their original levels of PA during the relaxed COVID-19 phases. As a comparison of Alpine regions shows, particularly severe COVID-19 measures seem to have reduced PA with potential negative health effects. For the future, policy makers and sports organizations should collaborate to support the population in their PA behavior during pandemics to outweigh restrictions.

Nature visits during the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway: Facilitators, motives, and associations with sociodemographic characteristics

“…Importantly, in Norway, no restrictions were set on access of parks and other natural environments. All of this is in line with a recent analysis by Schöttl et al ( 22 ), which indicated that the impact of the lockdown measures on people's physical activity levels tended to be less pronounced where people had the possibility to visit natural environments. These findings highlight the paramount importance of natural environments as an arena for the promotion of health-enhancing physical activity in the population, and corroborate the value of investing in policies that grant and facilitate the access to them.…”

“…As shown by a study examining longitudinal data among residents of five alpine regions, the mobility restrictions associated with the COVID-19 lockdowns generally had a negative impact on people's physical activity and exercise habits. However, this impact was less pronounced where people had the possibility to visit natural environments ( 22 ). This finding is supported by studies showing increased outdoor recreational activity during the lockdown compared to pre-lockdown periods among Strava users, with an increased use of urban green spaces, forests, and protected areas ( 23 , 24 ).…”

Sports-related leisure behavior in Alpine regions during the COVID-19 pandemic—A cross-sectional study in Austria, Germany and Italy

“…The research topics addressed in this study were an optional part of a large-scale retrospective online survey examining changes in physical activity, health and lifestyle behaviors due to COVID-19 ( 15 ). Data collection was conducted from December 12, 2020, to January 31, 2021, after a pre-test period, using SoSci Survey online survey software ( https://www.soscisurvey.de/ ).…”

“…The first and compulsory part of the online questionnaire included socio-demographic data (e.g., gender, age, education), mental health status (K6 scale), lifestyle (e.g., leisure time, sleep duration, screen time) and physical activity (Eurobarometer 472 study) behaviors as well as questions about the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., COVID-19 risk group, COVID-19 concerns, satisfaction with COVID-19 crisis management). For details on the measures of the first part of the questionnaire, please see Schöttl et al ( 15 ).…”

“…Given that the World Health Organization (WHO) had recommended online gaming as a way of providing social interaction in times of severe measures ( 11 ), it is likely that the amount of screen time and participation in gaming and e-sports experienced a marked increase ( 12 – 14 ). In addition, Schöttl et al showed, that people in the Alpine regions of Austria, Germany and Italy substituted their original physical activity behavior by taking online courses or exercising via apps, buying new sports equipment, practicing new types of sports, or doing home workouts ( 15 ).…”