Health behaviors and mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal population-based survey

• DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/qbgh7
• Publication Date: 2020-09-06T10:23:49Z
• Authors: Jutta Mata; Alexander Wenz; Tobias Rettig; Maximiliane Reife...; Katja Moehring; Ulrich Krieger; Sabine Friedel; Marina Fikel; Carina Cornesse; Annelies G. Blom; Elias Naumann
• Keywords: Snacking; Depression; Longitudinal Study; Pandemic; Screen Time

Background: Health behaviors such as physical activity and a balanced diet are essential to promote maintain health. Especially during crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, they have potential buffer against stress protect mental Method: In longitudinal study with four measurement points over 3 months about 3,500 randomly selected participants representative of German population reported their health (i.e., anxiety, depression, loneliness), screen time, snack consumption, activity. Results: Symptoms loneliness were highest first month pandemic-related lockdown, particularly in women people poor health, decreased time. Screen time snacking increased compared pre-lockdown. Snacking went back pre-lockdown levels within 2 months; further Snack increase decrease was stronger than men throughout lockdown. Generally, more snacking, less related higher symptoms across all points. Changes did not predict changes symptoms. Conclusions: Mental worsened an immediate response but mostly returned pre-crisis months. Engaging healthier is associated better This provides important descriptions (unintended) side effects national crisis contributes our understanding how preserve