No evidence for a decrease in physical activity among Swiss office workers during COVID-19 : a longitudinal study

Aegerter, Andrea Martina; Deforth, Manja; Sjøgaard, Gisela; Johnston, Venerina; Volken, Thomas; Luomajoki, Hannu; Dratva, Julia; Dressel, Holger; Distler, Oliver; Melloh, Markus; Elfering, Achim

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.620307

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-22106

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	No evidence for a decrease in physical activity among Swiss office workers during COVID-19 : a longitudinal study
Authors:	Aegerter, Andrea Martina Deforth, Manja Sjøgaard, Gisela Johnston, Venerina Volken, Thomas Luomajoki, Hannu Dratva, Julia Dressel, Holger Distler, Oliver Melloh, Markus Elfering, Achim
et. al:	No
DOI:	10.3389/fpsyg.2021.620307 10.21256/zhaw-22106
Published in:	Frontiers in Psychology
Volume(Issue):	12
Issue:	620307
Page(s):	332 341
Issue Date:	2021
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Frontiers Research Foundation
ISSN:	1664-1078
Language:	English
Subjects:	COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Coronavirus; Health promotion; Lockdown; Physical exercise; Public health; Shutdown
Subject (DDC):	613: Personal health
Abstract:	Purpose: The COVID-19 lockdown interrupted normal daily activities, which may have led to an increase in sedentary behavior (Castelnuovo et al., 2020). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the level of physical activity among Swiss office workers. Methods: Office workers from two Swiss organizations, aged 18-65 years, were included. Baseline data from January 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic became effective in Switzerland were compared with follow-up data during the lockdown phase in April 2020. Levels of physical activity were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Paired sample t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank test were performed for statistical analysis. Results: Data from 76 participants were analyzed. Fifty-four participants were female (71.1%). The mean age was 42.7 years (range from 21.8 to 62.7) at baseline. About 75% of the participants met the recommendations on minimal physical activity, both before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the lockdown. Weak statistical evidence for a decline in total physical activity in metabolic equivalent of task minutes per week (MET min/week) was found (estimate = -292, 95% CI from - ∞ to 74, p-value = 0.09), with no evidence for a decrease in the three types of activity: walking (estimate = -189, 95% CI from - ∞ to 100, p-value = 0.28), moderate-intensity activity (estimate = -200, 95% CI from - ∞ to 30, p-value = 0.22) and vigorous-intensity activity (estimate = 80, 95% CI from - ∞ to 460, p-value = 0.74). Across the three categories "high," "moderate," and "low" physical activity, 17% of the participants became less active during the lockdown while 29% became more active. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic did not result in a reduction in total physical activity levels among a sample of Swiss office workers during the first weeks of lockdown. Improved work-life balance and working times may have contributed to this finding.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/22106
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	CC BY 4.0: Attribution 4.0 International
Departement:	School of Health Sciences
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Public Health (IPH)
Published as part of the ZHAW project:	Prävention und Intervention von Nackenschmerzen bei Büroangestellten in der Schweiz (NEXpro)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Gesundheit

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Aegerter, A. M., Deforth, M., Sjøgaard, G., Johnston, V., Volken, T., Luomajoki, H., Dratva, J., Dressel, H., Distler, O., Melloh, M., & Elfering, A. (2021). No evidence for a decrease in physical activity among Swiss office workers during COVID-19 : a longitudinal study. Frontiers in Psychology, 12(620307), 332–341. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.620307

Aegerter, A.M. et al. (2021) ‘No evidence for a decrease in physical activity among Swiss office workers during COVID-19 : a longitudinal study’, Frontiers in Psychology, 12(620307), pp. 332–341. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.620307.

A. M. Aegerter et al., “No evidence for a decrease in physical activity among Swiss office workers during COVID-19 : a longitudinal study,” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 12, no. 620307, pp. 332–341, 2021, doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.620307.

AEGERTER, Andrea Martina, Manja DEFORTH, Gisela SJØGAARD, Venerina JOHNSTON, Thomas VOLKEN, Hannu LUOMAJOKI, Julia DRATVA, Holger DRESSEL, Oliver DISTLER, Markus MELLOH und Achim ELFERING, 2021. No evidence for a decrease in physical activity among Swiss office workers during COVID-19 : a longitudinal study. Frontiers in Psychology. 2021. Bd. 12, Nr. 620307, S. 332–341. DOI 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.620307

Aegerter, Andrea Martina, Manja Deforth, Gisela Sjøgaard, Venerina Johnston, Thomas Volken, Hannu Luomajoki, Julia Dratva, et al. 2021. “No Evidence for a Decrease in Physical Activity among Swiss Office Workers during COVID-19 : A Longitudinal Study.” Frontiers in Psychology 12 (620307): 332–41. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.620307.

Aegerter, Andrea Martina, et al. “No Evidence for a Decrease in Physical Activity among Swiss Office Workers during COVID-19 : A Longitudinal Study.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 12, no. 620307, 2021, pp. 332–41, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.620307.