No Evidence for a Decrease in Physical Activity Among Swiss Office Workers During COVID-19: A Longitudinal Study

Frontiers in Psychology

Achim Elfering¹  Michelle Gisler²  TV²  Marco Barbero²  Michelle Haas²  HL²  Gina M. Kobelt²  Lukas Staub²  the NEXpro Collaboration Group²  OD²  MD²  Thomas Zweig²  Nadine Sax²  MM²  Corinne Nicoletti²  Andrea M. Aegerter²  Yara Da Cruz Pereira²  AE²  Tobias Egli²  Katja Schülke²  Irene Etzer-Hofer²  GS²  Sandro Klaus²  Deborah Falla²  Beatrice Brunner²  VJ²  Seraina Niggli²  Achim Nüssle²  Jon Cornwall²  Kerstin Lüdtke²  JD²  HD²  Salome Richard²  Markus J. Ernst²  Markus Melloh³  Oliver Distler⁴  Gisela Sjøgaard⁵  Holger Dressel⁶  Julia Dratva⁷  Thomas Volken⁸  Manja Deforth⁸  Andrea Martina Aegerter⁸  Hannu Luomajoki⁹  Venerina Johnston^1,10 

[1] 0Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland;;Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia;Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland;Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark;Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland;Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland;Institute of Health Sciences, School of Health Professions, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland;Institute of Physiotherapy, School of Health Professions, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland;School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia;School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia;

关键词: coronavirus;    COVID-19;    SARS-CoV-2;    lockdown;    physical exercise;    health promotion;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2021.620307

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

PurposeThe COVID-19 lockdown interrupted normal daily activities, which may have led to an increase in sedentary behavior (Castelnuovo et al., 2020). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the level of physical activity among Swiss office workers.MethodsOffice workers from two Swiss organizations, aged 18–65 years, were included. Baseline data from January 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic became effective in Switzerland were compared with follow-up data during the lockdown phase in April 2020. Levels of physical activity were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Paired sample t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank test were performed for statistical analysis.ResultsData from 76 participants were analyzed. Fifty-four participants were female (71.1%). The mean age was 42.7 years (range from 21.8 to 62.7) at baseline. About 75% of the participants met the recommendations on minimal physical activity, both before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the lockdown. Weak statistical evidence for a decline in total physical activity in metabolic equivalent of task minutes per week (MET min/week) was found (estimate = −292, 95% CI from – ∞ to 74, p-value = 0.09), with no evidence for a decrease in the three types of activity: walking (estimate = −189, 95% CI from – ∞ to 100, p-value = 0.28), moderate-intensity activity (estimate = −200, 95% CI from – ∞ to 30, p-value = 0.22) and vigorous-intensity activity (estimate = 80, 95% CI from – ∞ to 460, p-value = 0.74). Across the three categories “high,” “moderate,” and “low” physical activity, 17% of the participants became less active during the lockdown while 29% became more active.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic did not result in a reduction in total physical activity levels among a sample of Swiss office workers during the first weeks of lockdown. Improved work-life balance and working times may have contributed to this finding.Clinical Trial Registrationwww.ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04169646. Registered 15 November 2019 – Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04169646.

【 授权许可】

Unknown