Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2022

Open Access 01-12-2022 | COVID-19 | Research

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

Authors: Tuija Jääskeläinen, Tommi Härkänen, Peppi Haario, Elina Isosaari, Annamari Lundqvist

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2022

Login to get access

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.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Girum T, Lentiro K, Geremev M, et al. Optimal strategies for COVID-19 prevention from global evidence achieved through social distancing, stay at home, travel restriction and lockdown: a systematic review. Arc Public Health. 2021;79:150.CrossRef
2.
Chakraborty and Maity P. COVID-19 outbreak: migration, effects on society, global environment and prevention. Sci Total Environ. 2020;1(728):138882.CrossRef
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Sepúlveda-Loyola W, Rodríguez-Sánchez I, Pérez-Rodríguez P, et al. Impact of social isolation due to COVID-19 on health in older people: mental and physical effects and recommendations. J Nutr Health Aging. 2020;24(9):938–47.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
8.
Dale R, Budimir S, Probst T, Humer E, et al. Quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria. Front Psychol. 2022;1(13):934253.CrossRef
9.
Blaszczyk-Bębenek E, Jagielski P, Boleslawska I, et al. Nutrition behaviors in polish adults before and during COVID-19 lockdown. Nutrients. 2020;12(10):3084.PubMedCentralCrossRef
10.
Giacalone D, Frøst MB, Rodríguez-Pérez C, et al. Reported changes in dietary habits during the COVID-19 Lickdown in the Danish population: the Danish COVIDiet study. Front Nutr. 2020;7:592112.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
11.
Kriaucioniene V, Bagdonaviciene L, Rodríguez-Pérez C, et al. Associations between changes in health Behaviours and body weight during the COVID-19 quarantine in Lithuania: the Lithuanian COVIDiet study. Nutrients. 2020;12(10):3119.PubMedCentralCrossRef
12.
Ammar A, Brach M, Trabelsi K, et al. Effects of COVID-19 home confinement on eating behaviour and physical activity: results of the ECLB-COVID19 international online survey. Nutrients. 2020;12(6):1583.PubMedCentralCrossRef
13.
Husain W, Ashkanani F. Does COVID-19 change dietary habits and lifestyle behaviours in Kuwait: a community-based cross-sectional study. Environ Health Prev Med. 2020;25(1):61.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
14.
Ismail L, Osaili T, Mohamed M, et al. Eating habits and lifestyle during COVID-19 lockdown in the United Arab Emirates: a cross-sectional study. Nutrients. 2020;12(11):3314.CrossRef
15.
Robinson E, Boyland E, Chisholm A, et al. Obesity, eating behavior and physical activity during COVID-19 lockdown: a study of UK adults. Appetite. 2021;156:104853.PubMedCrossRef
16.
Martinez-de-Quel Ó, Suárez-Iglesias D, López-Flores M, et al. Physical activity, dietary habits and sleep quality before and during COVID-19 lockdown: a longitudinal study. Appetite. 2020;158:105019.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
17.
Dogas Z, Kalcina L, Dodig I, et al. The effect of COVID-19 lockdown on lifestyle and mood in Croatian general population: a cross-sectional study. Croat Med J. 2020;61(4):309–18.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
18.
Malta D, Szwarcwald C, de Azevedo B, Barros M, et al. The COVID-19 pandemic and changes in adult Brazilian lifestyles: a cross-sectional study, 2020. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2020;29(4):e2020407.PubMedCrossRef
19.
Naughton F, Ward E, Khondoker M, et al. Health behaviour change during the UKCOVID-19 lockdown: findings from the first wave of the C-19 health behaviour and well-being daily tracker study. Br J Health Psychol. 2021;26(2):624–43.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
20.
Deschasaux-Tanguy M, Druesne-Pecollo N, Esseddik Y, et al. Diet and physical activity during the COVID-19 lockdown period (march-may 2020): results from the French NutriNet-Sante cohort study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021;113(4):924–38.PubMedCrossRef
21.
Blom V, Lönn A, Ekblom B, et al. Lifestyle habits and mental health in light of the two COVID-19 pandemic waves in Sweden, 2020. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(6):3313.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
22.
Stanton R, To Q, Khalesi S, et al. Depression, anxiety and stress during COVID-19: associations with changes in physical activity, sleep, tobacco and alcohol use in Australian adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):4065.PubMedCentralCrossRef
23.
Jahrami H, BaHammam A, Bragazzi N, et al. Sleep problems during the COVID-19 pandemic by population: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(2):299–313.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
24.
25.
26.
St-Onge MP, Grandner MA, Brown D, et al. American Heart Association obesity, behavior change, diabetes, and nutrition committees of the council on lifestyle and Cardiometabolic health; council on cardiovascular disease in the young; council on clinical cardiology; and stroke council. Sleep Duration Qual. 2016;1(18):134.
27.
Lehtonen R, Pahkinen E. Practical methods for design and analysis of complex surveys. 2nd ed: Wiley; 2004.
28.
Härkänen T, Kaikkonen R, Virtala E, et al. Inverse probability weighting and doubly robust methods in correcting the effects of non-response in the reimbursed medication and self-reported turnout estimates in the ATH survey. BMC Public Health. 2014;14(1):1–10.CrossRef
29.
Härkänen T, Karvanen J, Tolonen H, et al. Systematic handling of missing data in complex study designs–experiences from the health 2000 and 2011 surveys. J Appl Stat. 2016;43(15):2772–90.CrossRef
30.
31.
Lumley T. Analysis of complex survey samples. J Stat Softw. 2004;9(1):1–19.
32.
33.
George ES, Davidson I, El Masri A, et al. Unhealthy lifestyle Behaviours and psychological distress: a longitudinal study of Australian adults aged 45 years and older. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(7):4399.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
34.
Chan R, Woo J. Prevention of overweight and obesity: how effective is the current public health approach. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2010;7(3):765–83.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
35.
36.
Górnicka M, Drywien ME, Zielinska MA, et al. Dietary and lifestyle changes during COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns among polish adults: a cross-sectional online survey PLifeCOVID-19 study. Nutrients. 2020;12(8):2324.PubMedCentralCrossRef
37.
Flanagen EW, Beyel RA, Fearnbach SN, et al. The impact of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders on health behaviors in adults. Obesity. 2021;29(2):438–45.CrossRef
38.
Knell G, Robertson MC, Dooley EE, et al. Health behavior changes during COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent “stay-at-home” orders. Int J of environ res. Public Health. 2020;28(17):6268.
39.
Pišot S, Milovanović I, Šimunič B, et al. Maintaining everyday life praxis in the time of COVID-19 pandemic measures (ELP-COVID-19 survey). A cross-sectional comparison study of 9 European countries. Eur J Pub Health. 2020;30(6):1181–6.CrossRef
40.
Castañeda-Babarro A, Arbillaga-Etxarri A, Gutiérrez-Santamaría B, et al. Physical activity change during COVID-19 confinement. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(18):6878.PubMedCentralCrossRef
41.
Meyer J, McDowell C, Lansing J, et al. Changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior in response to COVID-19 and their associations with mental health in 3052 US adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(18):6469.PubMedCentralCrossRef
42.
Maugeri G, Castrogiovanni P, Battaglia G, et al. The impact of physical activity on psychological health during Covid-19 pandemic in Italy. Heliyon. 2020;6(6):e04315.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
43.
Qin F, Song Y, Nassis G, et al. Physical activity, screen time, and emotional well-being during the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak in China. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(14):5170.PubMedCentralCrossRef
44.
Sánchez-Sánchez E, Ramirez-Vargas G, Avellaneda-López Y, et al. Eating habits and physical activity of the Spanish population during the Covid-19 pandemic period. Nutrients. 2020;12(9):2826.PubMedCentralCrossRef
45.
Renzo L, Gualtiere P, Cinelli G, ym. Psychological aspects and eating habits during COVID-19 home confinement: results of EHLC-COVID-19 Italian online survey. Nutrients. 2020;12(7):2152.PubMedCentralCrossRef
46.
Salari H-FA, Jalali N, et al. Prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Glob Health. 2020;16:57.CrossRef
47.
Torres S, Nowson C. Relationship between stress, eating behavior, and obesity. Nutrition. 2007;23(11–12):887–94.PubMedCrossRef
48.
Rodríguez-Pérez C, Molina-Montes E, Verardo V, et al. Changes in dietary Behaviours during the COVID-19 outbreak confinement in the Spanish COVIDiet study. Nutrients. 2020;12(6):1730.PubMedCentralCrossRef
49.
Poelman M, Gillebaart M, Schlinkert C, et al. Eating behavior and food purchases during the COVID-19 lockdown: a cross-sectional study among adults in the Netherlands. Appetite. 2021;157:105002.PubMedCrossRef
50.
Gao C, Scullin M. Sleep health early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the United States: integrating longitudinal, cross-sectional, and retrospective recall data. Sleep Med. 2020;73:1–10.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
51.
Zeng L-N, Zong Q-Q, Yang Y, et al. Gender difference in the prevalence of insomnia: a meta-analysis of observational studies. Frotn Psychiatry. 2020;11:577429.
52.
Xiao H, Zhang Y, Kong D, Li S, et al. Social capital and sleep quality in individuals who self-isolates for 14 days during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in January 2020 in China. Med Sci Monit. 2020;26:e923921–1–8.
53.
Altena E, Baglioni C, Espie CA, et al. Dealing with sleep problems during home confinement due to the COVID-19 outbreak: practical recommendations from a task force of the European CBT-I academy. J Sleep Res. 2020;29(4):e13052.PubMedCrossRef
54.
Escobar-Córdoba R-OJ, Fontecha-Hernández. Effects of social isolation on sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sleep Sci. 2021;14(Spec 1):86–93.PubMedPubMedCentral
55.
Pellegrini M, Ponzo V, Rosato R, et al. Changes in weight and nutritional habits in adults with obesity during the “lockdown” period caused by the COVID-19 virus emergency. Nutrients. 2020;12(7):2016.PubMedCentralCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Temporal changes in health-related lifestyle during the COVID-19 epidemic in Finland – a series of cross-sectional surveys
Authors
Tuija Jääskeläinen
Tommi Härkänen
Peppi Haario
Elina Isosaari
Annamari Lundqvist
Publication date
01-12-2022
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keyword
COVID-19
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14574-y

Other articles of this Issue 1/2022

BMC Public Health 1/2022 Go to the issue

Research

A systematic literature review of the global seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus: possible implications for treatment, screening, and vaccine development

Research

The hidden burden of medical testing: public views and experiences of COVID-19 testing as a social and ethical process

Research

Establishing a minimum data set for suicide and attempted suicide registry system in Iran

Research

Future trends of life expectancy by education in the Netherlands

Research article

Replacing vaccine paper package inserts: a multi-country questionnaire study on the acceptability of an electronic replacement in different target groups

Research

US soldiers and the role of leadership: COVID-19, mental health, and adherence to public health guidelines