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05-08-2022 | COVID-19 | Original Article

A cross-sectional assessment of food practices, physical activity levels, and stress levels in middle age and older adults’ during the COVID-19 pandemic

Authors: Loo Yee Wong, Sarah L. Francis, Ulrike Genschel, Anna Arthur, Furong Xu, Lee Weidauer, Lillie Monroe-Lord, Melissa Ventura-Marra, Nadine R. Sahyoun, Chandler Kendall

Published in: Journal of Public Health | Issue 10/2023

Abstract

Aim

This cross-sectional study examined how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the food practices, physical activity (PA) levels, and stress levels of aging adults ages 40 years and older from seven states. It also explored to what extent the COVID-19 outcomes were affected by the social determinants of health (SDH).

Subject and methods

Respondents (n = 1250) completed an online survey. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the sociodemographic attributes and COVID-19 responses while the multiple llinear regression (MLR) test evaluated to what extent the SDH variables measured were associated with the reported COVID-19 impacts food practices, PA levels, and stress levels.

Results

Respondents were mostly White (75.9%), married (58.7%), age 60 years and older (61.8%), with a high school education or higher (97.4%). Most of the respondents (85.8%) live in areas that respondents perceived as supportive of health and well-being opportunities for older adults. Nearly one-half of the respondents reported maintaining their pre-pandemic grocery shopping/food buying frequency (44.7%) and PA levels (48.1%). However, 48.6% reported being “somewhat or very stressed” due to the pandemic. Findings revealed that the COVID-19 impacts on food-buying, PA levels, and stress levels were significantly influenced by age, gender, race, education, location, community, nutritional risk, quality of life, food security, and income (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

These findings provide valuable information as we continue to confront the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the health and well-being of aging adults. We can use this information to inform future public health programming interventions and opportunities.

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Title: A cross-sectional assessment of food practices, physical activity levels, and stress levels in middle age and older adults’ during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Loo Yee Wong
Sarah L. Francis
Ulrike Genschel
Anna Arthur
Furong Xu
Lee Weidauer
Lillie Monroe-Lord
Melissa Ventura-Marra
Nadine R. Sahyoun
Chandler Kendall
Publication date: 05-08-2022
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keyword: COVID-19
Published in: Journal of Public Health / Issue 10/2023
Print ISSN: 2198-1833
Electronic ISSN: 1613-2238
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-022-01742-y

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

A cross-sectional assessment of food practices, physical activity levels, and stress levels in middle age and older adults’ during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Aim

Subject and methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Aim

Subject and methods

Results

Conclusion

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