Early Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity Locations and Behaviors in Adults Living in the United States

Dunton, Genevieve F.; Wang, Shirlene D.; Do, Bridgette; Courtney, Jimikaye

COVID-19 restrictions and social-distancing may inhibit adults from attaining recommended levels of physical activity. This study examined early impact of COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity in adults during the first two months of restrictions in the U.S. and how physical activity locations were associated with physical activity levels during this period. Adults (N = 268) completed an online survey between April 10-May 25, 2020. Participants reported minutes of vigorous, moderate, and walking physical activity for past 7 days (early-COVID-19) and for a typical week in February 2020 (pre-COVID-19). Adults reported locations (e.g., home/garage, parks/trails) were they were active over the past 7 days. Past 12-month step count data were extracted from participants’ personal smartphones. Participants (18-74 years old, 22% Hispanic/Latino, 81% female) showed reductions in vigorous (M (diff )=-66.9 min/week), moderate (M (diff )=-92.4 min/week), walking (M (diff )-70.8 min/week), and step counts (M (diff )=-2232 steps/day) from the pre- to early-COVID19 periods. Reductions in walking and steps were larger for low-income and Hispanic/Latino adults. During early-COVID19 more vigorous and moderate activity were reported by those who were active in their home/garage or driveway/yard, and more steps were recorded by those who were active on the roads in their neighborhood or at parks/trails. We observed a decline in adults’ physical activity during the first two months of the COVID-19 pandemic based on retrospective self-report and device-based measures. Although these restrictions were necessary to slow the spread of the virus, data indicate that there may be unintended consequences on health-related behaviors.