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Self-perceived changes in physical activity and the relation to life satisfaction and rated physical capacity in swedish adults during the covid-19 pandemic—a cross sectional study

Eek, Frida LU orcid ; Larsson, Caroline LU ; Wisén, Anita LU and Hansson, Eva Ekvall LU (2021) In International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18(2).
Abstract

COVID-19 restrictions may prevent people from reaching recommended levels of physical activity (PA). This study examines self-perceived changes in the extent and intensity of PA during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the relation between perceived changes in PA and general life satisfaction and perceived physical capacity. A total of 1318 participants (mean age 47.8 SD12.6; 82.1% women) were recruited through social media in Sweden during autumn 2020. The survey included questions regarding perceived changes in PA compared to the previous year, the “Rating of Perceived Capacity” scale and “Life Satisfaction Questionnaire-11”. A change in PA was reported by 65% of participants. More participants reported an increase (36%) than a decrease... (More)

COVID-19 restrictions may prevent people from reaching recommended levels of physical activity (PA). This study examines self-perceived changes in the extent and intensity of PA during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the relation between perceived changes in PA and general life satisfaction and perceived physical capacity. A total of 1318 participants (mean age 47.8 SD12.6; 82.1% women) were recruited through social media in Sweden during autumn 2020. The survey included questions regarding perceived changes in PA compared to the previous year, the “Rating of Perceived Capacity” scale and “Life Satisfaction Questionnaire-11”. A change in PA was reported by 65% of participants. More participants reported an increase (36%) than a decrease (29%), however a decrease in PA was significantly more often considered to be due to the pandemic. The highest odds of decreased PA was found in the oldest age group (70+ years) (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.4–5.7). Those who reported decreased levels of PA reported lower life satisfaction and aerobic capacity than the other groups (p > 0.001). Decreased physical activity was reported by many, but an equal share reported increased activity during the pandemic. The highest odds for decreased activity was found in the oldest group—the group that has been subjected to the strictest recommended COVID-19 restrictions in Sweden.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Coronavirus pandemic, Health, Life satisfaction, Physical activity
in
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
volume
18
issue
2
article number
671
pages
14 pages
publisher
MDPI AG
external identifiers
  • pmid:33466860
  • scopus:85099342732
ISSN
1661-7827
DOI
10.3390/ijerph18020671
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
08c0145e-6a5e-4a82-bf5e-c2368fef650f
date added to LUP
2021-01-25 09:50:23
date last changed
2025-02-07 06:50:23
@article{08c0145e-6a5e-4a82-bf5e-c2368fef650f,
  abstract     = {{<p>COVID-19 restrictions may prevent people from reaching recommended levels of physical activity (PA). This study examines self-perceived changes in the extent and intensity of PA during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the relation between perceived changes in PA and general life satisfaction and perceived physical capacity. A total of 1318 participants (mean age 47.8 SD12.6; 82.1% women) were recruited through social media in Sweden during autumn 2020. The survey included questions regarding perceived changes in PA compared to the previous year, the “Rating of Perceived Capacity” scale and “Life Satisfaction Questionnaire-11”. A change in PA was reported by 65% of participants. More participants reported an increase (36%) than a decrease (29%), however a decrease in PA was significantly more often considered to be due to the pandemic. The highest odds of decreased PA was found in the oldest age group (70+ years) (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.4–5.7). Those who reported decreased levels of PA reported lower life satisfaction and aerobic capacity than the other groups (p &gt; 0.001). Decreased physical activity was reported by many, but an equal share reported increased activity during the pandemic. The highest odds for decreased activity was found in the oldest group—the group that has been subjected to the strictest recommended COVID-19 restrictions in Sweden.</p>}},
  author       = {{Eek, Frida and Larsson, Caroline and Wisén, Anita and Hansson, Eva Ekvall}},
  issn         = {{1661-7827}},
  keywords     = {{Coronavirus pandemic; Health; Life satisfaction; Physical activity}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  publisher    = {{MDPI AG}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}},
  title        = {{Self-perceived changes in physical activity and the relation to life satisfaction and rated physical capacity in swedish adults during the covid-19 pandemic—a cross sectional study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020671}},
  doi          = {{10.3390/ijerph18020671}},
  volume       = {{18}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}