Should we adjust health education methodology to low-educated employees needs? Findings from Latvia, Poland, Slovenia and Spain

Effect of COVID-19 confinement on physical activity patterns in relation to sociodemographic parameters in Spanish population

BACKGROUND

The main purpose of the present study was to determine the socio demographic parameters associated to physical activity (PA) patterns changes during the COVID-19 lockdown in the Spanish population.

METHODS

Participants were recruited by sending a survey through various social network channels via the snowball method. A voluntary sample of 2430 individuals consisting of 1,203 men and 1,227 women (aged between 18 to 73 years old) from the Spanish national territory participated in this study. An online survey was performed to collect the information, which was tested through ad hoc analysis with different socio-demographic variables. Participants were a median of 34 years old (18-73 years old) with a mean BMI of 23.6 kg/m2.

RESULTS

The risk factors associated with the change in PA hours during confinement showed that to do sports (β; -56.88, 95%CI; -79.35 to -34.40, P <0.001), male sex (β - 34.78, 95%CI;-54.02 to -15.52, P<0.001) and the educational level (i.e., elementary school category) (β; -54.21, 95%CI;-89.10 to -19.32, P= 0.002) reported negative changes with hours of PA during confinement. By the contrary, the employment status (passive work) and to be student reported positive association (i.e., increase PA hours per week).

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 lockdown led to a reduction PA patterns in Spanish population. Mostly men showed a drastic decrease in hours of PA compared to the women's group. Likewise, the groups of people with elementary and high education showed a decrease in hours of weekly PA, as well as unemployed people.