Temporal changes in health-related lifestyle during the COVID-19 epidemic in Finland - a series of cross-sectional surveys

Abstract

Background: Public health recommendations and governmental restrictions during the COVID-19 epidemic have affect everyday life. This study aimed to examine temporal changes in health-related lifestyle and the accumulation of positive and negative changes in the key lifestyle factors (vegetable consumption, leisure-time physical activity, sleeping, alcohol consumption, smoking) in the same individuals among Finnish adults during the epidemic.

Methods: This study was based on a series of cross-sectional surveys conducted between April 2020 and June 2021 to investigate antibody levels for the new coronavirus in the population. In each survey, a random sample of adults (18 to 69 years) from five university hospital regions were invited. A total of 5655 (response rate 32%) responded to the questionnaire including questions on lifestyle changes during epidemic.

Results: On average one-sixth of respondents (17%) reported at least two negative changes in the key lifestyle factors during the study period. An increase in snacking and sleep problems and decrease in leisure-time physical activity and active commuting to work were the most common of individual negative changes. The proportion of negative changes in physical activity increased as the epidemic drags on. In contrast, on average every seventh of the respondents (14%) reported at least two positive lifestyle changes in the key lifestyle factors. The most common individual positive changes were increased consumption of fruit, berries and vegetables and decreased consumption of alcohol. More negative changes were reported on average, when both negative and positive changes in the key lifestyle factors were summed. The most negative changes were reported in the late 2020.

Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that the lifestyle changes during the COVID-19 epidemic have been diverse being on average more commonly unfavorable than favorable for health. The deteriorated epidemic situation in the late 2020 and, on the other hand, prolonged epidemic predisposed to negative lifestyle changes. Further studies are important to examine whether these changes are maintained over time and to identify the factors that contribute to changes and their accumulation in the same individuals. Health promotion actions are needed to prevent the long-term effects of the epidemic on health and welfare.

Keywords: Alcohol consumption; COVID-19 epidemic; Diet; Lifestyle; Physical activity; Sleep; Smoking.

Fig. 1

The geographical areas from which the random samples were collected. Legend: An example of the study sample 5 (n = 1000), sampling date 23.4.2020

Fig. 2

Changes in lifestyle during COVID-19 epidemic (from April 2020 to June 2021, n = 5655). Legend: Blue line indicates the weighted proportion of respondents who reported decrease and red line the weighted proportion who reported increase in the lifestyle habits. Time periods: I = April–June 2020, II = July–September 2020, III=October–December, IV = January–March 2021 and V = April–June 2021