Social media and smartphone app use predicts maintenance of physical activity during Covid-19 enforced isolation in psychiatric outpatients

Abstract

Public health professionals have raised concerns that the social and physical distancing measures implemented in response to the Covid-19 pandemic may negatively impact health in other areas, via both decreased physical activity and increased social isolation. Here, we investigated whether increased engagement with digital social tools may help mitigate effects of enforced isolation on physical activity and mood, in a naturalistic study of at-risk individuals. Passively sensed smartphone app use and actigraphy data, collected from a sample of psychiatric outpatients both before and during imposition of strict lockdown conditions (N=163), were analysed using Gaussian graphical models: a form of network analysis which gives insight into the predictive relationships between measures across timepoints. Within-individuals, we found evidence of a positive predictive path between digital social engagement, general smartphone use, and physical activity - selectively under lockdown conditions. Further, we observed a positive relationship between social media use and total daily steps across individuals during (but not prior to) lockdown. We interpret these findings in terms of individuals using these digital tools to harness online social support structures, which may help guard against negative effects of in-person social deprivation and other pandemic-related stress. Monitoring of these measures is low burden and unintrusive and therefore, given appropriate consent, could potentially help identify individuals who are failing to engage this mechanism, providing a route to early intervention in this and other vulnerable populations.

COVID-19 pandemic-induced physical inactivity: the necessity of updating the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030

“…Also, mobile health apps may help promote active living during COVID-19. The positive effect of these apps on improving physical activity has been reported in some studies [ 13 ].…”

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Effectiveness of a Metabolic Health Telemedicine Intervention for Weight Loss: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

“…We also speculate that the constant evolution of our platform and the nature of it enabling both proactive and reactive feedback tailored to patient need may have played a role in the increased engagement and aided in the maintenance of weight loss during the pandemic when other interventions were challenged. Several studies reported that increased social media interaction and smartphone app use during the pandemic, especially fitness app use, were associated with increase in and maintenance of physical activity ( 30 , 31 ). Likewise, a recent study found that adoption of a remote consultation in an onsite weight loss intervention during the pandemic improved weight loss, and there was a dose-response effect between weight loss and the number of consultations ( 17 ).…”

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Interest in Home-Based Exercise: An Application of Digital Epidemiology

“…29,33 After this period, i.e., following the first two months, it seems that people's attention to exercise, especially home-based exercises, had decreased with the passage of global self-quarantines and their return to daily work, and on the other hand, the reduction of media coverage. 34,35 People should be advised of the need to perform regular physical activity due to two major points related to the fundamental role of physical activity: mental health and the immune system. Significant evidence shows that physical activity enhances the immune system, as well as psychological well-being and antiinflammatory effects.…”