Assessing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Jamaica: Physical Activity Participation, Weight Gain, and the Mental Health Perception

Van Der Rowe^1,

¹Faculty of Science and Sport, University of Technology, Jamaica

Cite this paper:
Van Der Rowe. Assessing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Jamaica: Physical Activity Participation, Weight Gain, and the Mental Health Perception. Journal of Physical Activity Research. 2021; 6(1):65-71. doi: 10.12691/jpar-6-1-9

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity (PA) participation, weight gain, and the mental health perception in Jamaica. A quantitative approach was applied using a cross-sectional survey design to collect data. The research surveyed 836 Jamaicans from all 14 parishes using a structured questionnaire via Google Forms. The research used a combined sampling method that included convenience and snowball techniques to survey participants ages 12-71 years. The results indicated that the level of PA participation during the COVID-19 pandemic was 73.3%. However, 87.2% of the respondents engaged in less than 150 minutes of PA per week, while 96.1% of the respondents participated in low intensity and short durations of PA below the recommended PA guidelines set out by the WHO as the very minimum needed to provide health benefits to people. Additionally, the government restrictions impacted eating habits and weight gain for majority of the respondents. Stress and depression were the most perceived mental impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the participants.

Keywords:
COVID-19 pandemic physical activity participation weight gain mental health

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	WHO (2020). Physical activity. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity.
[2]	Amini, H., Habibi, S., Islamoglu, A. H., Isanejad, E., Uz, C., & Daniyari, H. (2021). COVID-19 pandemic-induced physical inactivity: The necessity of updating the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 26(32), 1-3.
[3]	Pogrmilovic, K. B., Varela, R. A., Pratt, M., Milton, K., Bauman, A., Biddle, S. J. H., & Pedisic, Z. (2020). National physical activity and sedentary behaviour policies in 76 countries: Availability, comprehensiveness, implementation, and effectiveness. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 17, 1-13.
[4]	GoPA (2020). Brand new set of country cards are available. The global observatory for physical activity. Retrieved from: https://new.globalphysicalactivityobservatory.com/.
[5]	McCarthy, H., Potts, H. W. W., & Fisher, A. (2021). Physical activity behavior before, during, and after COVID-19 restrictions: Longitudinal smartphone-tracking study of adults in the United Kingdom. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(2), n/a.
[6]	Wilke, J., Mohr, L., Tenforde, A. S., Edouard, P., Fossati, C., González-Gross, M., Sánchez Ramírez, C., Laiño, F., Tan, B., Pillay, J. D. (2021). A pandemic within the pandemic? Physical activity levels substantially decreased in countries affected by COVID-19. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 18.
[7]	Diniz, A. T., Christofaro, G. D., Tebar, R. W., Cucato, G. G., Botero, P. J., Correia, A. M., Ritti-Dias, M. R., Lofrano-Prado, C. M., Prado, L. W. (2020). Reduction of physical activity levels during the COVID-19 pandemic might negatively disturb sleep pattern. Front Psychol, 11.
[8]	Sidebottom, C. (2020). The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine period on physical activity and dietary habits among college-aged students. ProQuest One Academic. (2478763655). Retrieved from https://login.ezproxy.utech.edu.jm/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.utech.edu.jm/dissertations-theses/effects-covid-19-pandemic-quarantine-period-on/docview/2478763655/se-2?accountid=35539.
[9]	Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey (2018). Retrieved from https://www.moh.gov.jm/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Jamaica-Health-and-Lifestyle-Survey-III-2016-2017.pdf.
[10]	Rowe, V. (2021). An investigation into the development of a national physical activity policy for Jamaica: Physically fit Jamaica. Journal of Physical Activity Research, 6(1), 21-27.
[11]	Sasaki, S., Sato, A., Tanabe, Y., Matsuoka, S., Adachi, A., Kayano, T., Yamazaki, H., Matsuno, Y., Miyake, A., & Watanabe, T. (2021). Associations between socioeconomic status, social participation, and physical activity in older people during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in a Northern Japanese City. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1-9.
[12]	Qi, M., Li, P., Moyle, W., Weeks, B., & Jones, C. (2020). Physical activity, health-related quality of life, and stress among the Chinese adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,17(18), 1-11.
[13]	Farah, Q. B., do Prado, L. W., Malik, N., Lofrano-Prado, C. M., de Melo, H. P., Botero, P. J., Cucato, G. G., Correia, A. M., & Ritti-Dias, M. R. (2021). Barriers to physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic in adults: a cross-sectional study. Sport Sciences for Health, 17, 441-447.
[14]	Park, K. H., Kim, A. R., Yang, M. A., Lim, S. J., & Park, J. H. (2021). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lifestyle, mental health, and quality of life of adults in South Korea. PLoS ONE 16(2), 1-13.
[15]	Pellegrini, A. C., Webster, J., Hahn, R. K., Leblond, L. T., & Unick, L. J. (2021). Relationship between stress and weight management behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic among those enrolled in an internet program. Obesity Science & Practice, 7(1), 129-134.
[16]	Ruissen, M. M., Regeer, H., Landstra, P. C., Schroijen, M., Jazet, I., Nijhoff, F. M., Pijl, H., Ballieux, B., Dekkers, O., Huisman, D. S., de Koning J. P. E. (2021). Increased stress, weight gain and less exercise in relation to glycemic control in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, 9(1), 1-8.
[17]	Radwan, H., Kitbi, M., Hasan, H., Hilali, M., Abbas, N., Hamadeh, R., Saif, R. E., & Naja, F. (2021). Indirect health effects of COVID-19: Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors during the lockdown in the United Arab Emirates. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,18(4), 1-22.
[18]	Krams, A. I., Jõers, P., Luoto, S., Trakimas, G., Lietuvietis, V., Krams, R., Kaminska, I., Rantala, J. M., & Krama, T. (2021). The obesity paradox predicts the second wave of COVID-19 to be severe in Western Countries. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(3), 1-10.