Evaluation of emotional (depression) and behavioural (nutritional, physical activity and sleep) status of Turkish adults during the COVID-19 pandemic period

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate emotional (depression) and behavioural (nutritional behaviours, physical activity status and sleep patterns) of Turkish adult individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Design: Cross-sectional online survey. The participants filled out a questionnaire (developed by using Google Forms) that contained descriptive characteristics, nutritional behaviours, sleep patterns, physical activity status, anthropometric measurements, COVID-19-related level of knowledge and the questions of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale through e-mail or social media (WhatsApp). Setting: Turkey. Participants: Totally, 1120 adult individuals who completed an online survey between April and May 2020. Results: It was determined that 29·1 % of the individuals showed mild, 34·2 % moderate and 23·4 % severe depression symptoms during the pandemic period. A significant relationship was found between gender, age and educational status, marital status and depression levels of the individuals, respectively (χ2 = 35·292, χ2 = 103·46, χ2 = 24·524 and χ2 = 86·208, P < 0·05). The top three foods consumed most during the pandemic period are tea and coffee (66·6 %), pastry (e.g. cake and cookie) (56·4 %) and desserts (49·6 %). During the pandemic period, 42·5 % of the individuals stated that they slept more and 40·2 % stated that there was no change in their sleep patterns. Daily physical activity durations were determined as 8·25 ± 1·77 h for sleep, 4·21 ± 2·68 h for lying down, 5·42 ± 2·64 h for sitting and 6·16 ± 4·82 h for standing activities. Conclusion: It was determined that the individuals showed different levels of depression symptoms during the pandemic period. Especially, carbohydrate food consumption increased, and physical activity status and sleep patterns changed due to the increased time spent sitting and lying.

The Effect of COVID-19–Related Lifestyle Changes on Depression

“…In this study, a decrease in physical activity; an increase in sleep duration, consumption of convenience foods, and consumption of delivered foods; a decrease in alcohol consumption and smoking; a decrease in the number of social meetings; and a decrease in the use of public transportation were confirmed to be due to COVID-19–related lifestyle changes. These findings are in accordance with those from previous studies that demonstrated that owing to the spread of COVID-19 and the effects of social (i.e., physical) distancing, individuals demonstrated a decrease in physical activity; an increase in sleep duration; an increase in the consumption of convenience foods (including delivered foods); a decrease in the number of social meetings; and a decrease in the use of public transportation [ 16 - 19 ]. These lifestyle changes can have far-reaching consequences for individuals’ physical and psychological well-being.…”

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sedentary Time and Behaviour in Children and Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…There were 64 studies included within the review [ 18 , 20 , 21 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , …”

“…Specific populations included elite athletes [ 43 ], post-bariatric patients [ 44 ], pregnant women [ 45 ], participants with depression [ 82 ], and children with autism [ 27 ], attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, [ 28 ]), and obesity [ 29 ]. Finally, 25 studies (37.5%) were conducted in European countries (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Scotland, Spain, and the United Kingdom; [ 27 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 42 , 43 , 45 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 ]), 18 (28.1%) in Asia (Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Jordan, Kuwait, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates; [ 20 , 21 , 28 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 ]), 12 (18.8%) in North America (Canada and United States; [ 18 , 36 ,…”

Factors associated with the weight change trend in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: the case of Turkey

“…These studies, which covered a relatively short period of the pandemic, stated that small changes in body weight may become permanent, and result in significant weight gain over time [ 45 46 47 ]. In 2 studies in Turkey that were conducted at the beginning of the pandemic, it was observed that the rate of participants who stated that their body weight increased (35.0%; 38.4%) and did not change (36.0%; 48.6%) was higher than those who stated that they lost weight [ 38 48 ]. In the present study, which was planned to determine the long-term effects of the pandemic, it was found that 58.96% of the participants gained weight, and 30.74% lost weight at the end of 1 yr of the pandemic.…”