Journal
BRITISH JOURNAL OF HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
Volume 26, Issue 2, Pages 624-643Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12500
Keywords
COVID-19; health behaviours; behaviour change; intensive longitudinal design; ecological momentary assessment
Categories
Funding
- University of East Anglia (UEA)
- UEA Health and Social Care Partners
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This study aimed to provide baseline cohort descriptives and assess changes in health behaviours since the UK COVID-19 lockdown. The research found that during the early lockdown period, participants generally exhibited worsening trends in dietary habits and physical activity, but did not change smoking, vaping, or substance use behaviors.
Objectives To provide baseline cohort descriptives and assess change in health behaviours since the UK COVID-19 lockdown. Design A prospective cohort (N = 1,044) of people recruited online, purposively targeting vulnerable populations. Methods After a baseline survey (April 2020), participants completed 3 months of daily ecological momentary assessments (EMA). Dietary, physical activity, alcohol, smoking, vaping and substance use behaviours collected retrospectively for the pre-COVID-19 period were compared with daily EMA surveys over the first 30 days during early lockdown. Predictors of behaviour change were assessed using multivariable regression models. Results 30% of the cohort had a COVID-19 at risk health condition, 37% were classed as deprived and 6% self-reported a mental health condition. Relative to pre-pandemic levels, participants ate almost one portion of fruit and vegetables less per day (vegetables mean difference -0.33, 95% CI -0.40, -0.25; fruit -0.57, 95% CI -0.64, -0.50), but showed no change in high sugar portions per day (-0.03, 95% CI -0.12, 0.06). Participants spent half a day less per week doing >= 30 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity (-0.57, 95% CI -0.73, -0.40) but slightly increased days of strength training (0.21, 95% CI 0.09, 0.34), increased alcohol intake (AUDIT-C score change 0.25, 95% CI 0.13, 0.37), though did not change smoking, vaping or substance use behaviour. Worsening health behaviour change was associated with being younger, female and higher body mass index. Conclusions The cohort reported worsening health behaviours during early lockdown. Longer term changes will be investigated using further waves of data collection.
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