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- Levels of Physical Activity before and after California’s COVID-19
Shutdown among a Population-Based Sample of Mothers from Low-income
Households
Authors:
Fred Molitor; Sarah Kehl
Pages: 1 - 8
Abstract: We examined changes in levels of physical activity (PA) before versus after California’s COVID-19 shutdown among mothers from low-income households across California. By comparing the same time periods in Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2020 to those in FFYs 2018, 2019, and 2021, we were able to assess whether the changes observed in FFY 2020 were different from those in pre-pandemic years, and the potential longer term impact of COVID-19 on PA. Households with incomes ≤185% of the federal poverty level were randomly selected in FFYs 2018-2021. Within each FFY, cross-sectional interviews were conducted by telephone in English or Spanish. Two outcome variables were examined: minutes of PA per week and whether guidelines of ≥150 minutes of weekly PA were met. Analyses examined these outcomes across and within FFYs by COVID-19 shutdown time periods controlling for race/ethnicity, age, education, and multiple comparisons. Among our analytic sample of 13,267 mothers, 65.2% were Latina, 16.6% were white, and 12.7% were African American. Levels of PA among mothers increased following California’s COVID-19 shutdown. Similar findings were observed within each of the four FFYs for both PA outcomes. We attribute our findings to a seasonal effect, with levels of PA increasing during warmer, post-COVID-19 shutdown months (May through September). We also suggest that the low-income status of our study population may explain why our findings contradict those reported in previous studies. The initial and repeated closure of gyms and fitness centers may have been less disruptive to our samples of mothers, who reported walking at rates higher than the general US population. Mothers may have also been more likely to come from households that received enhanced unemployment or other types of COVID-19 benefits, offering the means and time to continue their pattern of seasonal increases in PA in FFYs 2020 and into 2021.
PubDate: 2023-02-21
DOI: 10.12691/jpar-8-1-1
Issue No: Vol. 8, No. 1 (2023)
- The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical Activity among Employees and Students
at a Midsize University
Authors:
Lukman Tata; Brent M. Peterson, Trista Olson
Pages: 9 - 13
Abstract: Background: At the outset of the pandemic in January 2020, statewide confinement measures were imposed to varying degrees to limit viral spread. Evidence suggests that imposed measures may have negatively impacted physical activity (PA), specifically, in communities such as colleges or universities that generally maintain higher than average levels of PA. Purpose: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on PA and recreational facility use on students, faculty, and staff at a midsize university. Methods: A sample of 128 participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), which assessed PA in March 2020 and March 2021. Results: March 2021 PA levels were significantly lower than PA reported from March 2020 (2902 ± 2990 vs. 2266 ± 2343 MET-hours per week; p < 0.001). Conclusion: PA and attendance at recreational and gym facilities significantly decreased in March 2020 as compared to March 2021. Public health restrictions implemented to address COVID-19, may have influenced the reductions of PA observed among employees and students. Considering the benefits to immunity and the long-term health benefits that PA provides, public health experts should consider the short-and long-term negative health impacts that may result from closure of PA-focused recreational facilities when implementing public health restrictions.
PubDate: 2023-03-10
DOI: 10.12691/jpar-8-1-2
Issue No: Vol. 8, No. 1 (2023)
- BriefTrends: Association between Strength Training and ADHD in U.S.
Children – NHIS, 2020
Authors:
Peter D. Hart
Pages: 14 - 15
Abstract: This BriefTrends describes the prevalence of no strength training and its association with ADHD in U.S. children participating in the 2020 NHIS.
PubDate: 2023-03-24
DOI: 10.12691/jpar-8-1-3
Issue No: Vol. 8, No. 1 (2023)
- Football Cooperative, a Community Based Physical Activity Social
Initiative for Men: Protocol Paper for a Pragmatic Feasibility Trial
Authors:
Carroll P; Daly S, Egan T, Harrison M, Richardson N, Finnegan L, McGrath A, Krustrup P.
Pages: 16 - 26
Abstract: The case for a focus on men’s health is unequivocal; men, and poorer men in particular, continue to experience an excess burden of ill-health, mortality and premature death and both national and European policy has called for gender competent service provision to address this fundamental inequality in health. While lessons have been learned in recent years with respect to developing gender competency in service provision, there is value in considering how they can be applied to other settings, other sub populations of men and other types of initiatives (beyond the limitations of a structured programme). Such initiatives may appeal beyond the ‘worried well’ to more ‘hard to reach’ (HTR) groups of men who are most in need of such initiatives thereby ensuring that all men are reached in health promotion and preventative efforts. Football Cooperative (FC) is uniquely Irish and is a community-based initiative that provides social ‘pick up football’ games for men aimed at improving their overall health and wellbeing. In a series of papers, we propose to evaluate FC, however, we are not proposing to create something to be trialed but rather to use research to assess the social return on investment (SROI) and health and economic impact of a ‘real world’ organic initiative so that the feasibility for scale up can be determined. If feasible, plans will be put in place to upscale the FC initiative to improve reach (population and geographical access) and equitable access to the games and the games benefits. The purpose of this paper is to detail the protocols used in the evaluation of the FC initiative and by doing so, others engaged in translational research may be supported to ensure that efficacious initiatives translate into practice for the benefit of population health.
PubDate: 2023-04-26
DOI: 10.12691/jpar-8-1-4
Issue No: Vol. 8, No. 1 (2023)
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