Abstract
Background: Public health measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have led to disruptions in daily life, such as job loss and changes in activity. The present study examines the relationship between pandemic-related life events and disuse (prolonged sitting coupled with inactivity) among adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 4084 adults in Israel (September 2020). The primary independent variables were pandemic-related life events, such as job loss. The primary dependent variable was disuse as measured by the Rapid Assessment Disuse Index (RADI). The RADI was examined continuously and dichotomously as a low RADI score (<26: yes/no). Results: Linear regression indicated that experiencing a major life event during the pandemic was associated with lower RADI scores (-1.04; 95% confidence interval, -1.48 to -0.61). Similarly, logistic regression revealed that those experiencing a major life event had 1.18 (95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 1.34) times greater odds for low RADI scores in comparison to those not experiencing an event. Conclusions: Experiencing pandemic-related major life events was linked to less sitting time and increased activity levels among Israeli adults. Future research should examine underlying mechanisms explaining this relationship to facilitate the design and implementation of targeted interventions.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Physical Activity and Health |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Data collection for this study was supported by the American Cancer Society, Contract Number 63313. The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the American Cancer Society or the American Cancer Society—Cancer Action Network. Ethical approval for the study was received from the University of Haifa Institutional Review Board as well as exempt status bestowed by the Cooper Institute Institutional Review Board.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Human Kinetics, Inc.
Keywords
- inactivity
- life experiences
- RADI
- SARS-CoV-2
- sedentary behavior
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (all)