Home office shift and sedentary behaviour in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic: descriptives and related socioecological correlates

Wallmann-Sperlich, Birgit; Bucksch, Jens; Lendt, Claas; Biallas, Bianca; Bipp, Tanja; Froboese, Ingo

doi:10.1080/00140139.2023.2202841

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 44 publications

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“…However, a look at the current literature of international surveys shows advantages and disadvantages as described below. On the other hand, with increasing duration and intensity of home-based work, negative factors such as social isolation, worklife conflicts, less productivity, stress, and sleep problems, while WFH [13,16,17], as well as having insufficient ergonomic workplace conditions, might lead to health issues [18,19]. In addition, Xiao et al reported on factors that affect not only the health but also the behavior of employees, and thus may have had a direct impact on both physical and mental well-being during the pandemic (less physical activity, unhealthy diet, additional childcare at home, distractions at work, less communication with colleagues, or changed working hours) [20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Home-Based Work during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental and Physical Health in a German Population-Based Sample

Emmerich,

Junghans,

Zenger

et al. 2024

Healthcare

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Background: The COVID-19 outbreak necessitated physical distancing, as part of secondary prevention, at a personal and professional level. Working from home (WFH) became increasingly important. In this study, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on physical and mental health is investigated, compared with pre-pandemic data, and with employees who WFH and are on-site. Methods: Data from the German Saxon longitudinal study population were used. Attitudes towards WFH as well as mental and physical health assessments during the COVID-19 pandemic were examined. Comparisons were made with corresponding pre-pandemic scores and between employees WFH and on-site in 2022. Results: In total, 319 participants with equal gender distribution were included. Of those, 86 worked from home stating better organizability of their work, more time for partnership, less stress, and greater work satisfaction. Compared to pre-pandemic data, the D-score, PHQ-4, G-Score, and PHQ-SSS-8 showed a significant increase. No difference in physical or mental health between employees WFH and on-site was observed. Conclusion: In general, COVID-19 restrictions had a negative impact on mental and physical health. Although WFH is well accepted, it did not show significant health benefits.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Home-Based Work during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental and Physical Health in a German Population-Based Sample

Emmerich,

Junghans,

Zenger

et al. 2024

Healthcare

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior during the first COVID-19 pandemic- restrictions in Germany: a nationwide survey

Herbolsheimer,

Peters,

Wagner

et al. 2024

BMC Public Health

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Background The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions posed challenges to maintaining healthy lifestyles and physical well-being. During the first mobility restrictions from March to mid-July 2020, the German population was advised to stay home, except for work, exercise, and essential shopping. Our objective was to comprehensively assess the impact of these restrictions on changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior to identify the most affected groups. Methods Between April 30, 2020, and May 12, 2020, we distributed a COVID-19-specific questionnaire to participants of the German National Cohort (NAKO). This questionnaire gathered information about participants’ physical activity and sedentary behavior currently compared to the time before the restrictions. We integrated this new data with existing information on anxiety, depressive symptoms, and physical activity. The analyses focused on sociodemographic factors, social relationships, physical health, and working conditions. Results Out of 152,421 respondents, a significant proportion reported altered physical activity and sedentary behavioral patterns due to COVID-19 restrictions. Over a third of the participants initially meeting the WHO’s physical activity recommendation could no longer meet the guidelines during the restrictions. Participants reported substantial declines in sports activities (mean change (M) = -0.38; 95% CI: -.390; -.378; range from -2 to + 2) and reduced active transportation (M = -0.12; 95% CI: -.126; -.117). However, they also increased recreational physical activities (M = 0.12; 95% CI: .117; .126) while engaging in more sedentary behavior (M = 0.24; 95% CI: .240; .247) compared to pre-restriction levels. Multivariable linear and log-binomial regression models indicated that younger adults were more affected by the restrictions than older adults. The shift to remote work, self-rated health, and depressive symptoms were the factors most strongly associated with changes in all physical activity domains, including sedentary behavior, and the likelihood to continue following the physical activity guidelines. Conclusions Mobility patterns shifted towards inactivity or low-intensity activities during the nationwide restrictions in the spring of 2020, potentially leading to considerable and lasting health risks.

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Physical activity, heart rate and sleep before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in 34 countries (Preprint)

Wyatt,

Forstmann,

Badier

et al. 2024

Preprint

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BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted behavior within populations, affecting physical activity (PA), heart rate (HR) and sleep characteristics in particular. OBJECTIVE We analyzed the associations between the features of the COVID pandemic worldwide and PA, HR & sleep parameters, using data collected from wearable sensors over a three-year period. METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of data obtained from the Withings Steel HR activity trackers of 208,818 individuals from 34 countries, from 2019 to 2022. Key metrics analyzed included daily step counts, average heart rate and sleep duration. The statistical methods used included descriptive analyses, time-trend analysis and mixed models evaluating the impact of restriction measures, controlling for potential confounders such as sex, age and seasonal variations. RESULTS We detected a significant decrease in physical activity, with a 12.3% reduction of daily step count over the three years. A 1.50% decrease in HR occurred during lockdowns, associated with the decrease in activity levels. In 2022, the global population had not returned to pre-pandemic physical activity levels, with a noticeable persistence of inactivity. Particularly, the proportion of sedentary individuals remained elevated compared to 2019, indicating that the impact of the pandemic on reducing physical activity has had lasting effects on populations worldwide. Sleep duration increased during restrictions, particularly in the countries with the most severe lockdowns. CONCLUSIONS The sustained decrease in physical activity and its physiological consequences highlight the need for public health strategies to mitigate the long-term effects of the measures taken during the pandemic. Despite the gradual lifting of restrictions, physical activity levels have not fully recovered, with lasting implications for global health. If similar circumstances arise in the future, priority should be given to measures for effectively increasing physical activity to counter the increase in sedentary behavior, mitigate health risks and prevent the rise of chronic diseases.

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Home office shift and sedentary behaviour in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic: descriptives and related socioecological correlates

Cited by 3 publications

References 44 publications

Impact of Home-Based Work during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental and Physical Health in a German Population-Based Sample

Impact of Home-Based Work during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental and Physical Health in a German Population-Based Sample

Changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior during the first COVID-19 pandemic- restrictions in Germany: a nationwide survey

Physical activity, heart rate and sleep before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in 34 countries (Preprint)

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