The impact of physical activity on psychological health during Covid-19 pandemic in Italy

Abstract

The worldwide spread of COVID-19 has upset the normality of Italian daily life, forcing population to social distancing and self-isolation. Since the containment precautions also concern sport-related activities, home workout remained the only possibility to play sports and stay active during the pandemic. The present study aimed to examine changes in the physical activity levels during self-quarantine in Italy, and the impact of exercise on psychological health. A total of 2974 Italian subjects has completed an online survey, but only 2524 subjects resulted eligible for this study. The questionnaire measured the total weekly physical activity energy expenditure before and during quarantine (i.e. the sum of walking, moderate-intensity physical activities, and vigorous-intensity physical activities) in Metabolic Equivalent Task minutes per week (MET-min/wk) using an adapted version of International Physical Activity Questionnaire and their psychological well-being using the Psychological General Well Being Index. Of the 2524 Italian subjects included in the study, 1426 were females (56.4%) and 1098 males (43.6%). Total physical activity significantly decreased between before and during COVID-19 pandemic (Mean: 2429 vs. 1577 MET-min/wk, ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001), in all age groups and especially in men (Female, mean: 1994 vs. 1443 MET-min/wk, ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001; Male, mean: 2998 vs. 1754 MET-min/wk, ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between the variation of physical activity and mental well-being (r = 0.07541, ∗∗∗p = 0.0002), suggesting that the reduction of total physical activity had a profoundly negative impact on psychological health and well-being of population. Based on this scientific evidence, maintaining a regular exercise routine is a key strategy for physical and mental health during a forced rest period like the current coronavirus emergency.

Keywords: COVID-19; Epidemiology; Exercise; Home based exercise; IPAQ-SF; PGWBI; Pandemic; Physical activity; Psychological well-being; Psychology; Public health; Quarantine.

Figure 1

A. Total, vigorous, moderate physical activity and walking calculated in MET-minutes/week, before and during COVID-19. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. ∗∗∗p < 0.001 and ∗p = 0,0188 as determined by Unpaired t test with Welch's correction. B. Total physical activity in MET-minutes/week before and during COVID-19 of high active, moderate active and low active participants. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001 as determined by Unpaired t test with Welch's correction. C. Variation of total physical activity in MET-minutes/week between before and during COVID-19 in high active, moderate active and low active groups. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001 as determined by one-way ANOVA followed by Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn's multiple comparisons test.

Figure 2

A. Total physical activity in MET-minutes/week before and during COVID-19 in relation to gender variable. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001 as determined by Unpaired t test with Welch's correction. B. Variation of total physical activity in MET-minutes/week between before and during COVID-19 in female and male groups. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001 as determined by Unpaired t test with Welch's correction. C. Total physical activity in MET-minutes/week before and during COVID-19 in relation to age variable. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001 as determined by Unpaired t test with Welch's correction. D. Variation of total physical activity in MET-minutes/week between before and during COVID-19 in young, young adult, adult and over 60 groups. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. There was no statistically significant difference between groups as determined by one-way ANOVA followed by Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn's multiple comparisons test.

Figure 3

A. Correlation between Δ-MET–min/week and total PGWBI score. r = 0.07541 ∗∗∗p = 0.0002 as determined by Spearman's ρ correlation. B–C. Correlation between total Δ-MET–min/week and total PGWBI score in relation to gender variable. Female group: r = 0.1758, ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001; male group: r = 0.06356, ∗p = 0.0366 as determined by Spearman's ρ correlation. D,E,F,G. Correlation between total Δ-MET–min/week and total PGWBI score in relation to age variable. Young group: r = -0.04104 p = 0.4480 (ns); young adult group: r = 0.1168, ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001; adult group: r = 0.03169, p = 0.4045 (ns) and over 60 group: r = 0.1125, p = 0.0557 (ns) as determined by Spearman's ρ correlation. H.I,L. Correlation between total Δ-MET–min/week and total PGWBI score in high active, moderate active and low active participants. High group: r = 0.1322, ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001; moderate group: r = 0.1035, ∗∗p = 0.0020; low group: r = 0.08157 p = 0.0546 (ns) as determined by Spearman's ρ correlation.