Change in health, wellbeing and physical activity levels during the Covid-19 pandemic

A longitudinal cohort of parkrun participants in the United Kingdom

Datos Bibliográficos

ID22945250
AutoresHelen Quirk (0000-0003-2716-4681, School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield , 30 Regent Street , Sheffield S1 4DA, UK), Steve Haake (0000-0002-4449-6680, The Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Olympic Legacy Park, 2 Old Hall Road, Sheffield, S9 3TU , UK, autor de correspondencia), Elizabeth Goyder (0000-0003-3691-1888, School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield , 30 Regent Street , Sheffield S1 4DA, UK), Alice Bullas (0000-0003-2857-4236, The Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Olympic Legacy Park, 2 Old Hall Road, Sheffield, S9 3TU , UK), Mike Graney (Parkrun UK, Unit 3 Lower Deck, Phoenix Wharf, Twickenham, TW1 3DY , UK), Chrissie Wellington (Parkrun UK, Unit 3 Lower Deck, Phoenix Wharf, Twickenham, TW1 3DY , UK)
Año2023
Volumen38
Número3
Fecha de publicación2023-06-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
EditorialOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/daac012
PMID35218652
OpenAlexW4213280062
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas6
Referencias citadas20

Lockdown restrictions imposed across the UK in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a profound impact on many people’s health and wellbeing. People were encouraged to be active, but population surveys suggest some groups found this easier than others. We explored the changes in health, wellbeing and physical activity levels among a sample in the UK who experienced the sudden loss of a weekly community-based physical activity opportunity, parkrun. A sample of UK parkrun participants responded to two surveys: pre-COVID-19 in January/February 2019 and during the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2020. Outcomes were happiness, life satisfaction, connections with others, physical health, mental health and physical activity. The sample was stratified by gender, age, deprivation status, physical activity and number of parkruns completed. Demographics were reported using descriptive statistics; distributions between sub-groups were compared using Chi-square tests while differences in outcomes were determined using the Mann–Whitney U test. Open text responses were also analysed. Happiness, life satisfaction, connections with others, physical health and mental health of 450 parkrun participants were negatively impacted for all sub-groups, although the impact was not experienced equally. Physical activity fell by 6% while happiness and life satisfaction fell by 12%. People experienced the worst negative impact on their connections with others. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the wellbeing of a greater proportion of females, younger adults, inactive people, those from higher deprivation areas, and those who had completed fewer parkruns. There is evidence that the wellbeing of those who were more active, and those more involved in a community-based physical activity initiative pre-pandemic, was less negatively affected during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Cohort · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) · Descriptive statistics · Disease · Environmental health · Happiness · Life satisfaction · Longitudinal study · Mental health · Pandemic · Population · Psychiatry · Quality of life (healthcare) · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Demography · Medicine · Physical Activity and Health · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social Psychology · Gerontology