Physical activity, well-being, and priorities of older women during the COVID-19 pandemic: a survey of Women's Health Initiative Strong and Healthy (WHISH) intervention participants

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity among Mostly Older, Overweight Black Women Living in the Rural Alabama Black Belt

Despite well-documented global declines in physical activity (PA) during the COVID-19 pandemic, little is known regarding the specific impact among underserved, rural Alabama counties. This is concerning as this region was already disproportionately burdened by inactivity and related chronic diseases and was among the hardest hit by COVID-19. Thus, the current study examined the effect of COVID-19 on PA in four rural Alabama counties. An ancillary survey was administered between March 2020 and August 2021 to the first cohort (N = 171) of participants enrolled in a larger PA trial. Main outcomes of this survey included the perceived impact of COVID-19 on PA, leisure-time PA, and social cognitive theory (SCT) constructs at 3 months. Almost half of the participants reported being less active during the pandemic (49.7%) and endorsed that COVID-19 made PA more difficult (47.4%), citing concerns such as getting sick from exercising outside of the home (70.4%) and discomfort wearing a face mask while exercising (58%). Perceived COVID-19 impact on PA was significantly associated with education, household dependents, and gender (p's < 0.05). More women, parents, and college graduates reported that the COVID-19 pandemic made PA more difficult. Overall, there were no significant associations between PA, SCT constructs, or perceived COVID-19 impact on PA scores at 3 months. While the pandemic made PA difficult for many participants, these barriers were not associated with leisure-time PA levels or related theoretical mechanisms of action, which bodes well for the success of our ongoing intervention efforts and the resiliency of these communities.

COVID-19 in the Community: Changes to Women's Mental Health, Financial Security, and Physical Activity

Introduction

This study describes changes in the mental health, financial security, and physical activity levels of women in North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Data were collected from women aged 20-40 years receiving primary care at 2 health centers in North Carolina during 2020-2022. Surveys (N=127) evaluated changes in mental health, financial security, and physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. These outcomes were analyzed both descriptively and for association with sociodemographic factors using logistic regression. A subset of participants (n=46) participated in semistructured interviews. Interview transcripts were reviewed and evaluated for recurring themes by primary and secondary coders using a rapid-coding technique. Analysis was conducted in 2022.

Results

Women surveyed were 28.4% non-Hispanic White, 38.6% non-Hispanic Black, and 33.1% Hispanic/Latina. Compared with reports before the pandemic, participants reported increased frustration or boredom (69.1%), loneliness (51.6%), anxiety (64.3%), depression (52.4%), and changed sleep patterns (68.3%). Increased alcohol and other recreational substance use were associated with race and ethnicity (p<0.05) after adjustment for other sociodemographic factors. Participants reported difficulty in paying for basic expenses (44.0%). Financial difficulties during COVID-19 were associated with non-Hispanic Black race and ethnicity, less education, and lower prepandemic household income. Data showed pandemic-associated reductions in mild (32.8%), moderate (39.5%), and strenuous (43.3%) exercise, with a correlation between increased depression and reduced mild exercise. Interviews identified themes including reduced activity while working remotely, lack of gym access, and reduced motivation for exercise.

Conclusions

This mixed-methods study is one of the first to evaluate the mental health, financial security, and physical activity challenges women aged between 20 and 40 years in the southern U.S. faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Older Adults' Frequency of Going Outside during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Associations with Physical Distancing, Health Status, and Fall Risk Factors

Research shows significant health benefits of going outside in late life. Using the 2019 and 2020 National Health and Aging Trend Study and its 2020 COVID-19 supplemental survey (N = 3,857, age 70+), we examined changes in the past-month frequency of going outside one's home/building during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 compared to the same time in 2019. We found that 57.0% reported no change in the frequency of going outside, 32.0% went out less frequently, and 11.0% went out more frequently. Logistic regression models showed that decreased frequency was associated with higher frequency of going outside in 2019, avoidance of contact with those outside their household (AOR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.10, 2.06), dementia diagnosis, mobility device use, self-rated health (AOR = .85, 95% CI = .75-.97), and being 90+ years of age, female, non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic, divorced/separated. Older adults are likely to benefit from going outside more often when they can safely do so.

Relationship of Social Connectedness With Decreasing Physical Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Older Women Participating in the Women's Health Initiative Study

BACKGROUND

Aging is generally accompanied by decreasing physical activity (PA), which is associated with a decline in many health parameters, leading to recommendations for older adults to increase or at least maintain PA.

METHODS

We determined relationships between social connectedness and decreasing or increasing PA levels during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic among 41 443 participants of the Women's Health Initiative Extension Study. Outcomes of logistic regression models were decreasing PA activity (reference: maintaining or increasing) and increasing PA activity (reference: maintaining or decreasing). The main predictor was social connectedness as a combined variable: not living alone (reference: living alone) and communicating with others outside the home more than once/week (reference: once/week or less). We adjusted for age, race, ethnicity, body mass index, physical function level, and education.

RESULTS

Compared with participants who were not socially connected, socially connected participants had lower odds of decreasing PA (adjusted odds ratio 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.87-0.95). Odds of increasing PA (vs decreasing or maintaining PA) were not significantly different among socially connected and not socially connected participants. Associations between social connectedness and decreasing PA did not significantly differ by age (<85 vs ≥85 years), race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White vs other races/ethnicity), education (college vs 75).

CONCLUSION

Social connectedness was associated with lower odds of decreasing PA among older women during the pandemic. These findings could inform the development of future interventions to help older women avoid decreasing PA.

COVID-19 effects on women's home and work life, family violence and mental health from the Women's Health Expert Panel of the American Academy of Nursing

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic exaggerated women's roles in families as primary caretakers and overseers of family health. This is compounded by possible loss of work and resultant loss of health insurance.

PURPOSE

We examine how pandemic-related factors have altered women's roles and created stressors challenging stress adaptation and typical coping strategies, including how registered nurses have faced unique challenges.

FAMILY VIOLENCE AND PANDEMIC-RELATED MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES

Enforced stay-athome orders exaggerated by work-from-home has amplified family violence worldwide. Besides COVID-19 protective measures increasing greater contact with abusers, they limited women's access to help or support. Pandemic-related issues increased anxiety, anger, stress, agitation and withdrawal for women, children, and registered nurses.

DISCUSSION

More evidence about pandemic-related impacts on women's home and work lives, especially the scope of stressors and emotional/mental health manifestations is urgently needed. Policies to support interventions to improve mental health resilience are paramount.