Physical activity and mental health in individuals with multimorbidity during COVID-19: an explanatory sequential mixed method study

Abstract

Objective: to understand the physical activity and mental health of individuals living with long term conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic

Design: a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study with two phases: phase 1) quantitative survey, and phase 2) qualitative follow-up interviews.

Setting: online. For the quantitative phase, an online survey launched in March 2021, using Microsoft Forms. For the qualitative phase, in depth semi-structured interviews were conducted via online.

Participants: 368 adults over 18 years old living in the UK with at least one long term condition completed the survey. Interviews were conducted in a subsample of participants from previous quantitative phase, with 26 people. Data was analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: responses from the survey, showed that people with one long term condition were significantly more physically active and spent less time sitting, than those with two or more conditions, presenting with significantly higher well-being (p<0.0001), and lower levels of anxiety (p<0.01), and depression (p<0.0001). Interviews found that that people developed a range of strategies to cope with the impact of changeability and consequences of their long-term condition on their physical activity.

Conclusions: the number of long-term conditions influenced physical activity and how people coped with their condition during COVID-19. Findings will inform policy developments in preparation for future pandemics to support and remain people to remain physically active and mental health.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Leire Ambrosio: orcid.org/0000-0002-9450-7210

ORCID for Danielle Lambrick: orcid.org/0000-0002-0325-6015

ORCID for Mari Carmen Portillo: orcid.org/0000-0003-1583-6612

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