Sleep Quality and Physical Activity as Predictors of Mental Wellbeing Variance in Older Adults during COVID-19 Lockdown: ECLB COVID-19 International Online Survey
Authors: Trabelsi Khaled , Ammar Achraf , Masmoudi Liwa , Boukhris Omar , Chtourou Hamdi , Bouaziz Bassem , Brach Michael , Bentlage Ellen , How Daniella , Ahmed Mona , Mueller Patrick , Mueller Notger , Hsouna Hsen , Elghoul Yousri , Romdhani Mohamed , Hammouda Omar , Paineiras-Domingos Laisa , Braakman-Jansen Annemarie , Wrede Christian , Bastoni Sofia , Pernambuco Carlos , Mataruna-Dos-Santos Leonardo , Taheri Morteza , Irandoust Khadijeh , Bragazzi Nicola , Strahler Jana , Washif Jad , Andreeva Albina , Bailey Stephen , Acton Jarred , Mitchell Emma , Bott Nicholas , Gargouri Faiez , Chaari Lotfi , Batatia Hadj , Khoshnami Samira , Samara Evangelia , Zisi Vasiliki , Sankar Parasanth , Ahmed Waseem , Ali Gamal , Abdelkarim Osama , Jarraya Mohamed , Abed Kais , Moalla Wassim , Souissi Nafaa , Aloui Asma , Souissi Nizar , Gemert-Pijnen Lisette , Riemann Bryan , Riemann Laurel , Delhey Jan , Gómez-Raja Jonathan , Epstein Monique , Sanderman Robbert , Schulz Sebastian , Jerg Achim , Al-Horani Ramzi , Mansi Taysir , Dergaa Ismail , Jmail Mohamed , Barbosa Fernando , Ferreira-Santos Fernando , Šimunič Boštjan , Pišot Rado , Pišot Saša , Gaggioli Andrea , Steinacker Jürgen , Zmijewski Piotr , Apfelbacher Christian , Glenn Jordan , Khacharem Aïmen , Clark Cain , Saad Helmi , Chamari Karim , Driss Tarak , Hoekelmann Anita ,   on behalf of the ECLB-COVID19 Consortium
Published: April 2021

Background. The COVID-19 lockdown could engender disruption to lifestyle behaviors, thus impairing mental wellbeing in the general population. This study investigated whether sociodemographic variables, changes in physical activity, and sleep quality from pre- to during lockdown were predictors of change in mental wellbeing in quarantined older adults. Methods. A 12-week international online survey was launched in 14 languages on 6 April 2020. Forty-one research institutions from Europe, Western-Asia, North-Africa, and the Americas, promoted the survey. The survey was presented in a differential format with questions related to responses “pre” and “during” the lockdown period. Participants responded to the Short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire, and the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results. Replies from older adults (aged >55 years, n = 517), mainly from Europe (50.1%), Western-Asia (6.8%), America (30%), and North-Africa (9.3%) were analyzed. The COVID-19 lockdown led to significantly decreased mental wellbeing, sleep quality, and total physical activity energy expenditure levels (all p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that the change in total PSQI score and total physical activity energy expenditure (F(2, 514) = 66.41 p < 0.001) were significant predictors of the decrease in mental wellbeing from pre- to during lockdown (p < 0.001, R2: 0.20). Conclusion. COVID-19 lockdown deleteriously affected physical activity and sleep patterns. Furthermore, change in the total PSQI score and total physical activity energy expenditure were significant predictors for the decrease in mental wellbeing.