Activities Carried Out during the First COVID-19 Lockdown by Italian Citizens

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has altered how citizens engage in activities. This study describes the new activities citizens engaged in during the first lockdown, factors that helped them cope with the confinement, the supports they used the most, and which supports they would have liked to receive. This cross-sectional study consists of an online survey made of 49 questions that was completed by the citizens of the province of Reggio Emilia (Italy) from 4 May until 15 June 2020. The outcomes of this study were explored by focusing on four of the survey questions. Of the 1826 citizens who responded, 84.2% had started new leisure activities. Males, participants who lived in the plain or foothills, and those who experienced nervousness engaged less in new activities, while those whose employment status changed, whose lifestyle worsened, or whose use of alcohol increased engaged in more activities. The support of family and friends, leisure activities, continuing to work, and an optimistic attitude were perceived to be of help. Grocery delivery and hotlines providing any type of information and mental health support were used frequently; a lack of health and social care services and of support in reconciling work with childcare was perceived. Findings may help institutions and policy makers to better support citizens in any future circumstances requiring prolonged confinement.

Which Occupations Did People Engage in during Lockdown? A European Cross-Sectional Descriptive Survey by Generation

“…Previous studies performed in Europe showed that in the prepandemic period (i.e., before the lockdown), (i) 89% of OAs showed an interest in quiet leisure occupations [ 11 ] and (ii) 18% of European adults aged 50 and over engaged in quiet leisure more than once a week (22% in France), vs. 9% for people below the age of 50 (8% in France) [ 23 ]. Our univariate analysis showed that reading was the most frequent quiet leisure occupation, which is in line with Paltrinieri et al's report that 39% of the surveyed citizens in Reggio Emilia read more than before [ 19 ]. In our study, this was especially true among OAs.…”

“…Our results showed that adults of all generations started or developed several leisure activities during lockdown. This finding is in line with (i) Paltrinieri et al's report in which 84% of the surveyed citizens in the Italian province of Reggio Emilia started new leisure occupations during lockdown [ 19 ] and (ii) Huls et al's [ 20 ] report that respondents spent 11% more time on leisure. More precisely, quiet recreations (typically those practiced at home) accounted for 38% of the 4500 newly performed or more frequently performed occupations in our study; this was especially true for YAs after adjustment for other sociodemographic variables.…”

“…In our study, household management accounted for 24% of the occupations more frequently engaged; this notably comprised cooking (13% for YAs, 11% for MAs, and 4% for OAs), household chores (5% for YAs, 9% for MAs, and 12% for OAs), and caring for children (3% for YAs, 4% for MAs, and 1% for OAs). Paltrinieri et al also found cooking to be the most frequent new occupation during lockdown [ 19 ]. In our study, gardening also accounted for 7% of more frequently engaged occupations (5% for OAs, 7.5% for MAs, and 8% for OAs), but this proportion was much higher (34%) in Paltrinieri et al's study [ 19 ].…”

“…Paltrinieri et al also found cooking to be the most frequent new occupation during lockdown [ 19 ]. In our study, gardening also accounted for 7% of more frequently engaged occupations (5% for OAs, 7.5% for MAs, and 8% for OAs), but this proportion was much higher (34%) in Paltrinieri et al's study [ 19 ]. In our study, these “traditional” occupations were still more prevalent among OAs during lockdown (gardening: p = 0.004; house chores: p < 0.001) but were increasingly taken up by all generations during lockdown.…”

“…In a study conducted in Sweden, OAs also reported that despite greater restriction in their social contacts, they developed new types of social encounter: discussions with neighbours over a hedge, discussions with (grand)children through the window, social media, and video calls [ 21 ]. These activities were especially important because Paltrinieri et al [ 19 ] found that support from family and friends was perceived as being helpful during the lockdown.…”