The association between depression symptoms, psychological burden caused by Covid-19 and physical activity: An investigation in Germany, Italy, Russia, and Spain

Brailovskaia, Julia; Cosci, Fiammetta; Mansueto, Giovanni; Miragall, Marta; Herrero, Rocío; Baños, Rosa; Krasavtseva, Yulia; Kochetkov, Yakov; Margraf, Jürgen

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113596

Cited by 82 publications

(104 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Spanish citizens were not allowed to leave their homes unless they were considered essential workers, went out for food shopping or for health issues ( Boletín Oficial del Estado, 2020a , b ). Similarly to what has been reported in other places ( Brailovskaia et al, 2020 ; Cénat et al, 2020 ), the negative psychological impact of the lockdown in Spain has already been highlighted ( Giménez-Dasí et al, 2020 ; González-Sanguino et al, 2020 ; Justo-Alonso et al, 2020 ; Sandín et al, 2020 ). Among other emotional symptoms, high levels of depression, anxiety, stress, worries, feelings of loneliness and sleep problems have been reported in adults of various ages ( Justo-Alonso et al, 2020 ; Sandín et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 70%

The Efficacy of Music for Emotional Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Spain: An Analysis of Personal and Context-Related Variables

et al. 2021

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The strict lockdown experienced in Spain during March–June 2020 as a consequence of the COVID-19 crisis has led to strong negative emotions. Music can contribute to enhancing wellbeing, but the extent of this effect may be modulated by both personal and context-related variables. This study aimed to analyze the impact of the two types of variables on the perceived efficacy of musical behaviors to fulfill adults’ emotional wellbeing-related goals during the lockdown established in Spain. Personal variables included age, gender, musical training, personality, resilience, and perception of music’s importance. Contextual variables referred to living in a region with a high COVID-19 impact, perception of belonging to a risk group, being alone, having caring responsibilities during confinement, and amount of time of music listening as compared to prior to the crisis. The study was conducted retrospectively during August–December 2020, when the strict lockdown was over in Spain. An online survey was disseminated among the general population and groups of musicians, and the answers of 507 adults (from 18 years on, 73.9% females, 51.3% musically trained adults) were analyzed. Only personal, but not COVID-19 context-related variables, showed an impact on music’s efficacy. The youngest age group of adults and those with musical training reported the highest efficacy of music for wellbeing enhancement, and music’s importance was found to be the main significant predictor of music’s perceived efficacy. Our findings suggest that the people who have been reported to be emotionally more vulnerable during the lockdown, due to either a strong impact on their daily lives or their lower resilience, perceive a higher benefit from musical behaviors. Being musically trained, even for a small number of years, also leads to a perception of higher efficacy of music for the achievement of emotional wellbeing goals. However, this effect is explained by the musically trained individuals’ higher perception of music’s importance. Although musical behaviors can be generally considered as important for wellbeing enhancement, our study highlights who are the potential individuals who could benefit the most from music-related activities for obtaining better levels of wellbeing, at least within the current context of the COVID-19 crisis.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 70%

The Efficacy of Music for Emotional Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Spain: An Analysis of Personal and Context-Related Variables

et al. 2021

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“…The mental, psychological, and social benefits of PA in the general population under “normal circumstances” are unequivocal [ 37 , 38 ]. It has now been shown that PA can ease the psychological stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and can buffer the detrimental effects in different populations [ 39 , 40 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical Activity during the First COVID-19-Related Lockdown in Italy

Füzéki

Schröder

Carraro

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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The spread of the COVID-19 virus was met by a strict lockdown in many countries around the world, with the closure of all physical activity (PA) facilities and limitations on moving around freely. The aim of the present online survey was to assess the effect of lockdown on physical activity in Italy. Physical activity was assessed using the European Health Interview Survey questionnaire. A total of 1500 datasets were analyzed. Differences between conditions were tested with a chi²-based (Χ2) test for categorical variables, and with the Student’s t-test for paired data. A fixed effects binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify relevant predictor variables to explain the compliance with World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations. We found a substantial decline in all physical activity measures. Mean differences in walking and cycling metabolic equivalent of task minutes per week (METmin/week), respectively, were 344.4 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 306.6–382.2; p < 0.001) and 148.5 (95% CI: 123.6–173.5; p < 0.001). Time spent in leisure time decreased from 160.8 to 112.6 min/week (mean difference 48.2; 95% CI: 40.4–56.0; p < 0.001). Compliance with WHO recommendations decreased from 34.9% to 24.6% (chi2 (1, 3000) = 38.306, p < 0.001, V = 0.11). Logistic regression showed a reduced chance (OR 0.640, 95% CI: 0.484–0.845; p = 0.001) to comply with WHO PA recommendations under lockdown conditions. Measures to promote physical activity should be intensified to limit detrimental health effects.

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“…Here, moderate to vigorous intensity seems more bene cial for mental health than light intense activities 42 . However, studies conducted during COVID19-related mitigation measures con rm these rather low correlations 24,25,31 . Unexpectedly, there was no correlation between sports activity level and stress in the present sample.…”

Section: Summary Of Main Ndingsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Those participants who showed a decrease in their physical activity levels showed poorer psychological health 30 . Another cross-country study provided initial evidence for sport activity (single item measure) to mediate the relationship between depressive symptoms and burden caused by the COVID-19 pandemic 31 . While thus associations between sports behavior and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic can be assumed, mediating and moderating variables are barely understood.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental Health, Resilience and Sports Activity in the Initial Phase of The First COVID-19 Lockdown in Germany

Strahler

Smolinski²,

Krüger

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background Quarantine and social-distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic situation resulted in a radical change in lifestyle behaviors. While the reduction of total physical activity is assumed to negatively impact psychological health (higher stress and anxiety levels), regular sports activity during lockdown conditions has beneficial effects on health. Mechanisms are however unclear. The present analysis therefore examined the associations of sports activity with mental health, and assessed whether this is due to a direct effect on experiencing positive emotions and mental health, due to a stress-buffering mechanism, and/or through protecting/enhancing resilience. Methods An online survey, accessible from April 7th to April 30th 2020, gathered data on sports activity (Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sport Questionnaire, BSA), mental health (Patient Health Questionnaire-4, PHQ-4, WHO Wellbeing Index, WHO-5), momentary stress (single item), and resilience (i.e. feeling determined, cheerful, content, and being interested in the things one is doing). The final data set comprised 742 subjects including 534 (72.0%) women and ranging in age from 16 to 83 years (mean: 28.13 ± 11.46 years). Results Across all participants, sports activity was related to higher wellbeing and resilience but lower affective psychopathology. Importantly, all coefficients were below 0.2 indicating only small-sized associations. Moderation analyses confirmed a direct effect of sports activity on affective symptoms and wellbeing. Stress-buffering effects were not confirmed for either outcome but a resilience-protecting effect was seen for both wellbeing and affective psychopathology. Conclusions During the initial phase of the first COVID-19 lockdown, sports activity was associated with better mental health and wellbeing. Besides this direct effect, there was also evidence for a resilience-protecting effect of sport. The assumed stress-buffering effect could not be confirmed. Present findings indicate resilience-protective mechanisms to be a major contributor to sports beneficial effects on mental health during quarantine. Though, results from this cross-sectional, predominantly female, and convenience sample study must be confirmed in more diverse samples.

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The association between depression symptoms, psychological burden caused by Covid-19 and physical activity: An investigation in Germany, Italy, Russia, and Spain

Cited by 82 publications

References 33 publications

The Efficacy of Music for Emotional Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Spain: An Analysis of Personal and Context-Related Variables

The Efficacy of Music for Emotional Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Spain: An Analysis of Personal and Context-Related Variables

Physical Activity during the First COVID-19-Related Lockdown in Italy

Mental Health, Resilience and Sports Activity in the Initial Phase of The First COVID-19 Lockdown in Germany

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