Longitudinal associations between going outdoors and mental health and wellbeing during a COVID-19 lockdown in the UK

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic led to national lockdowns in countries around the world. Whilst lockdowns were shown to be effective in reducing the spread of disease, they were also associated with adverse effects on people’s mental health and wellbeing. Previous studies have suggested that time spent outside may have played a role in mitigating these negative effects, but research on this topic remains limited. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the longitudinal associations between going outdoors and people’s mental health and wellbeing during the first national lockdown (March–May 2020) in the UK. Data from 35,301 participants from the COVID-19 Social Study were analysed. Fixed effects regression was used to explore the longitudinal association between changes in going outdoors (the number of days spent outside) and changes in depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, life satisfaction and loneliness. A range of household and neighbourhood moderators were examined. Results show that an increase in the number of days spent outside was associated with decreases in depressive and anxiety symptoms and an increase in life satisfaction. Associations were more salient amongst people living with others, and those with greater satisfaction with their neighbourhood walkability and green spaces. No longitudinal association was found with loneliness. Overall, our analyses showed a positive association between going outdoors and improved mental health and wellbeing during the first COVID-19 lockdown in the UK. These findings are important for formulating guidance for people to stay well at home during pandemics and for the on-going nature-based social prescribing scheme.

Physical Activity during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the UK: A Qualitative Analysis of Free-Text Survey Data

“…The positive effect on mental health was particularly evident in those who had access to outdoor space and the release of time spent commuting to participate in other activities. This echoes findings from quantitative studies during the pandemic [ 43 ]. Some participants took the opportunity to get more active during COVID-19, due to the beneficial effect of physical activity on mental health and wellbeing.…”

Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the UK: A Qualitative Analysis of Free-Text Survey Data

“…attending the gym, whilst also facilitating habits or patterns of inactivity being broken. Given, on average, it takes 66 days to form a new habit [43], the duration of each lockdown was sufficient to disrupt previous habits or to lead to the formation of new ones. Although many participated in the daily allowance of exercise during early lockdowns (i.e.…”

Effect of the decreased frequency of going out on the association between anxiety and sleep disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mediation analysis

“…Going out may particularly relieve stress from anxiety during the pandemic. Some crosssectional studies conducted during the pandemic have shown that a decreased frequency of going out was positively associated with anxiety [7,8]. In addition, previous studies have shown that spending time outside was associated with mental and physical health [23,24].…”

“…Some previous studies showed that the decreased frequency of going out was associated with anxiety [7,8]. Data from the COVID-19 Social Study in the UK showed that the change in days spent outside was negatively associated with the change in anxiety symptoms [7]. Similarly, a web-based, cross-sectional study in Austria reported that, compared with participants who spent < 60 min/day outdoors, participants who spent ≥ 60 min/day outdoors had fewer anxiety symptoms (OR = 0.70; 95%CI: 0.49-1.02) [8].…”

“…The decreased frequency of going out might be related to both anxiety and sleep disorders during pandemic. Some previous studies showed that the decreased frequency of going out was associated with anxiety [7,8]. Data from the COVID-19 Social Study in the UK showed that the change in days spent outside was negatively associated with the change in anxiety symptoms [7].…”