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Prevalence of Insufficient Physical Activity, Sedentary Screen Time and Emotional Well-Being During the Early Days of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak in China: A National Cross-Sectional Study

28 Pages Posted: 9 Apr 2020

See all articles by Fei Qin

Fei Qin

China Institute of Sport Science; Jinan University - School of Physical Education

Yiqing Song

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) - Department of Epidemiology

George P. Nassis

China Institute of Sport Science; University of Southern Denmark - Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics

Lina Zhao

China Institute of Sport Science; Shanghai University of Sport - School of Kinesiology; Wenzhou Medical University

Shuqiang Cui

Beijing Institute of Sports Science

Lili Lai

Nanchang Normal University

Zhaozhao Wu

Northwest University - Physical Education Department

MinXiao Xu

China Institute of Sport Science; Shanghai University of Sport - School of Kinesiology

Chaoyi Qu

China Institute of Sport Science; Beijing Sport University - School of Kinesiology

Yanan Dong

Beijing Institute of Sports Science

Zhongwei Wang

Changzhou Research Institute of Science and Medical Treatment

Xue Geng

China Institute of Sport Science; Beijing Sport University - School of Kinesiology

Cuicui Zhao

China Institute of Sport Science; Qufu Normal University - Department of Physical Education

Yiwei Feng

China Institute of Sport Science; Beijing Sport University - School of Kinesiology

Zhining Han

China Institute of Sport Science; Qufu Normal University - Department of Physical Education

Zhengzheng Fan

China Institute of Sport Science; Qufu Normal University - Department of Physical Education

Jiexiu Zhao

China Institute of Sport Science

More...

Abstract

Background: The pandemic of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) poses a challenge to health promotion in the days of lockdown. We aimed to evaluate the characteristics of lifestyle in China during the initial stage of COVID-19 lock down.

Methods: The questionnaire was distributed to Chinese adults living in 31 provinces of China via internet using a snowball sampling strategy. Information on 7-day physical activity recall, sedentary screen time, and emotional state were collected between January 24 and February 2, 2020. ANOVA, χ² test, and spearman’s correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis.

Findings: 12107 participants aged 18-80 years old were included. During the initial phase of COVID-19 outbreak, nearly 60% of Chinese adults had inadequate physical activity (95% CI 56.6%-58.3%), which was more than twice the global prevalence (27·5%, 25·0–32·2%). Their mean screen time was more than 4 hours per day during home stay (261·3 ± 189·8 minutes per day). Of all participants, the positive affect score was 24·78 and the negative affect score was 19·34. In addition, we found that the proportions of confirmed COVID-9 cases were positively and significantly correlated with provincial negative affect scores (r=0·501, p =0·004) but not correlated with the prevalence of insufficient physical activity, screen time, and positive scores ( p >0·05). Individuals with vigorous physical activity appeared to have better emotional state and less sedentary screen time than those with light physical activity.

Interpretation: During this nationwide lockdown, more than half of Chinese adults were temporarily living in a sedentary lifestyle with insufficient physical activity, more screen time, and poor emotion states, which may carry considerable health risks. Promotion of home-based self-exercise can potentially help improve health and wellness.

Funding Statement: This study was funded by the National Key Technology R&D Program (2019YFF0301600), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31371195 and 11775059).

Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics Approval Statement: Full ethical approval was obtained from the China Institute of Sport Science, Beijing, China (CISS-2020-01-28). All participants gave their informed consent.

Keywords: physical activity, home-quarantine

Suggested Citation

Qin, Fei and Song, Yiqing and Nassis, George P. and Zhao, Lina and Cui, Shuqiang and Lai, Lili and Wu, Zhaozhao and Xu, MinXiao and Qu, Chaoyi and Dong, Yanan and Wang, Zhongwei and Geng, Xue and Zhao, Cuicui and Feng, Yiwei and Han, Zhining and Fan, Zhengzheng and Zhao, Jiexiu, Prevalence of Insufficient Physical Activity, Sedentary Screen Time and Emotional Well-Being During the Early Days of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak in China: A National Cross-Sectional Study (3/31/2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3566176 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3566176

Fei Qin

China Institute of Sport Science ( email )

Beijing
China

Jinan University - School of Physical Education ( email )

Guangzhou
China

Yiqing Song

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) - Department of Epidemiology ( email )

IN
United States

George P. Nassis

China Institute of Sport Science ( email )

Beijing
China

University of Southern Denmark - Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics ( email )

Odense
Denmark

Lina Zhao

China Institute of Sport Science ( email )

Beijing
China

Shanghai University of Sport - School of Kinesiology ( email )

Shanghai
China

Wenzhou Medical University ( email )

Zhejiang Province
China

Shuqiang Cui

Beijing Institute of Sports Science ( email )

4 Guangcai N Rd
Beijing
China

Lili Lai

Nanchang Normal University ( email )

China

Zhaozhao Wu

Northwest University - Physical Education Department ( email )

China

MinXiao Xu

China Institute of Sport Science ( email )

Beijing
China

Shanghai University of Sport - School of Kinesiology ( email )

Shanghai
China

Chaoyi Qu

China Institute of Sport Science ( email )

Beijing
China

Beijing Sport University - School of Kinesiology ( email )

Beijing
China

Yanan Dong

Beijing Institute of Sports Science ( email )

4 Guangcai N Rd
Beijing
China

Zhongwei Wang

Changzhou Research Institute of Science and Medical Treatment ( email )

Changzhou
China

Xue Geng

China Institute of Sport Science ( email )

Beijing
China

Beijing Sport University - School of Kinesiology ( email )

Beijing
China

Cuicui Zhao

China Institute of Sport Science ( email )

Beijing
China

Qufu Normal University - Department of Physical Education ( email )

Qufu
China

Yiwei Feng

China Institute of Sport Science ( email )

Beijing
China

Beijing Sport University - School of Kinesiology ( email )

Beijing
China

Zhining Han

China Institute of Sport Science ( email )

Beijing
China

Qufu Normal University - Department of Physical Education ( email )

Qufu
China

Zhengzheng Fan

China Institute of Sport Science ( email )

Beijing
China

Qufu Normal University - Department of Physical Education ( email )

Qufu
China

Jiexiu Zhao (Contact Author)

China Institute of Sport Science ( email )

Beijing
China

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