Effects of home confinement on mental health and lifestyle behaviours during the COVID-19 outbreak: insights from the ECLB-COVID19 multicentre study.

Achraf Ammar, Khaled Trabelsi, Michael Brach, Hamdi Chtourou, Omar Boukhris, Liwa Masmoudi, Bassem Bouaziz, Ellen Bentlage, Daniella How, Mona Ahmed, Patrick Mueller, Notger Mueller, Omar Hammouda, Laisa Liane Paineiras-Domingos, Annemarie Braakman-Jansen, Christian Wrede, Sophia Bastoni, Carlos Soares Pernambuco, Leonardo Mataruna, Morteza Taheri, Khadijeh Irandoust, Aïmen Khacharem, Nicola L Bragazzi, Jana Strahler, Jad Adrian, Albina Andreeva, Jordan M Glenn, Nicholas T Bott, Faiez Gargouri, Lotfi Chaari, Hadj Batatia, Samira C Khoshnami, Evangelia Samara, Vasiliki Zisi, Parasanth Sankar, Waseem N Ahmed, Gamal Mohamed Ali, Osama Abdelkarim, Mohamed Jarraya, Kais El Abed, Wassim Moalla, Mohamed Romdhani, Asma Aloui, Nizar Souissi, Pijnen Lisette Van Gemert, Bryan L Riemann, Laurel Riemann, Jan Delhey, Jonathan Gómez-Raja, Monique Epstein, Robbert Sanderman, Sebastian Schulz, Achim Jerg, Ramzi Al-Horani, Taysir Mansi, Mohamed Jmail, Fernando Barbosa, Fernando Ferreira-Santos, Boštjan Šimunič, Rado Pišot, Saša Pišot, Andrea Gaggioli, Piotr Zmijewski, Stephen J Bailey, Jürgen Steinacker, Karim Chamari, Tarak Driss, Anita Hoekelmann

Journal: Biology of sport 2020;38(1):9-21

PMID: 33795912

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Plain Language Summary

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). To curb the spread of the 2020 pandemic, social distancing, self-isolation and nationwide lockdown measures were put in place. These measures along with hygiene care are recognized as the most effective ways to curb the spread of disease. However; the weakening of social contacts can result in anxiety, frustration, panic attacks, loss or sudden increase of appetite, insomnia, depression, mood swings, delusions, fear, sleep disorders, and suicidal/domestic violence. The purpose of the study is to provide scientific data to help identify risk factors for the psychosocial strain during the COVID-19 outbreak. The study is an international cross-disciplinary online survey and was circulated in April 2020. 1047 replies were analysed from this preliminary phase. The results show a significant difference in all tested parameters and therefore reveal a large burden for mental wellbeing combined with a tendency towards an unhealthy lifestyle during, compared to before, the confinement enforced by the COVID-19 pandemic. These results highlight the importance for policy makers to consider strategies to promote wellbeing during future confinements.

Abstract

Although recognised as effective measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, social distancing and self-isolation have been suggested to generate a burden throughout the population. To provide scientific data to help identify risk factors for the psychosocial strain during the COVID-19 outbreak, an international cross-disciplinary online survey was circulated in April 2020. This report outlines the mental, emotional and behavioural consequences of COVID-19 home confinement. The ECLB-COVID19 electronic survey was designed by a steering group of multidisciplinary scientists, following a structured review of the literature. The survey was uploaded and shared on the Google online survey platform and was promoted by thirty-five research organizations from Europe, North Africa, Western Asia and the Americas. Questions were presented in a differential format with questions related to responses "before" and "during" the confinement period. 1047 replies (54% women) from Western Asia (36%), North Africa (40%), Europe (21%) and other continents (3%) were analysed. The COVID-19 home confinement evoked a negative effect on mental wellbeing and emotional status (P < 0.001; 0.43 ≤ d ≤ 0.65) with a greater proportion of individuals experiencing psychosocial and emotional disorders (+10% to +16.5%). These psychosocial tolls were associated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviours with a greater proportion of individuals experiencing (i) physical (+15.2%) and social (+71.2%) inactivity, (ii) poor sleep quality (+12.8%), (iii) unhealthy diet behaviours (+10%), and (iv) unemployment (6%). Conversely, participants demonstrated a greater use (+15%) of technology during the confinement period. These findings elucidate the risk of psychosocial strain during the COVID-19 home confinement period and provide a clear remit for the urgent implementation of technology-based intervention to foster an Active and Healthy Confinement Lifestyle AHCL).

Address: Institute of Sport Science, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany.; Research Laboratory, Molecular Bases of Human Pathology, LR12ES17, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.; High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.; Research Laboratory: Education, Motricity, Sport and Health, EM2S, LR19JS01, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.; Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.; High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.; Physical Activity, Sport, and Health, UR18JS01, National Observatory of Sport, Tunis, Tunisia.; High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.; Higher Institute of Computer Science and Multimedia of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia.; Research Group Neuroprotection, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany.; Medical Faculty, Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.; Research Laboratory, Molecular Bases of Human Pathology, LR12ES17, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.; High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.; Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.; Faculdade Bezerra de Araújo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.; Department of Psychology, Health & Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherland.; Department of Psychology, Health & Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherland.; Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano, Italy.; Laboratório de Fisiologia do Exercício, Estácio de Sá University, Brasil.; Canadian University of Dubai, Faculty of Management, Department of Sport Management, United Arab Emirates, UAE.; Faculty of Social Science, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran.; UVHC, DeVisu, Valenciennes ; LIRTES-EA 7313. Université Paris Est Créteil Val de Marne, France.; Department of Health Sciences, Postgraduate School of Public Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.; Laboratory for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada.; Department of Psychology and Sport Science, University of Gießen, Gießen, Germany.; Sports Performance Division, National Sports Institute of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.; Department of Sports Biomechanics, Moscow Center of Advanced Sport Technologies, 129272 Moscow, Russia.; Exercise Science Research Center, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, USA.; Clinical Excellence Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA.; Research Laboratory, Molecular Bases of Human Pathology, LR12ES17, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.; Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.; Computer science department, University of Toulouse, IRIT-INP-ENSEEIHT, Toulouse, France.; UFR STAPS, UPL, Paris Nanterre University, Nanterre, France.; Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.; Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Thessaly, Greece.; Consultant in internal medicine and diabetes, MGM muthoot hospitals pathanamthitta, Kerala, India 689645.; Consultant family physician, CRAFT hospital and research centre, Kodungallur, Kerala, India.; Faculty of Physical Education, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.; Faculty of Physical Education, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.; Institute for Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, Karlsruher, Germany.; Physical Activity, Sport, and Health, UR18JS01, National Observatory of Sport, Tunis, Tunisia.; Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, USA.; PharmD, BCBS; PharmIAD, Inc,Savannah, GA, USA.; Institute of Social Science, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany.; FundeSalud, Dept. of Health and Social Services, Government of Extremadura, Merida, Spain.; The E-Senior Association, Paris, France.; Department of Health Psychology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.; Sports- and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, Leimgrubenweg, Germany.; Department of Exercise Science, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan.; Faculty of Physical Education, The University of Jordan, Jordan.; Digital Research Centre of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.; Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.; ISCTE-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Av. das Forças Armadas, Lisboa, Portugal.; Institute for Kinesiology Research, Science and Research Centre Koper, Garibaldijeva 1, Koper, Slovenia.; Catholic University of the Sacred Heart I UNICATT, Milano, Italy.; Institute of Sport - National Research Institute, 01-982 Warsaw, Poland.; School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough E11 3TU, UK.; ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar and Laboratory ''Sport Performance Optimization'', (CNMSS); ISSEP Ksar-Said, Manouba University, Tunisia.; Interdisciplinary Laboratory in Neurosciences, Physiology and Psychology: Physical Activity, Health and Learning (LINP2-2APS), UFR STAPS, UPL, Paris Nanterre University, 92000 Nanterre, France.; Institute of Sport Science, Otto-von-Guericke University, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany.

DOI: 10.5114/biolsport.2020.96857