Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Front Public Health. 2022 Nov 4;10:958189. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.958189. eCollection 2022.
Group-based physical activity is an important positive factor assisting the middle-aged to older population to be regularly physically active, especially inside a society with a large population and highly sociable environment. However, when group-based physical activity is restricted during a public health crisis such as the infectious disease pandemic, the influence of social distancing on physical activity among this vulnerable group needs to be recognized.
This study aimed to investigate the influence of social distancing on physical activity among the middle-aged to older Chinese population at the national level.
Data from a nationally representative social follow-up survey (China Family Panel Studies, CFPS) for 2018 and 2020 were used. Physical activity level in year 2018 was set as the baseline to be compared with that for each individual in 2020, when China implemented social distancing during the COVID-19. Chinese population with an age greater than 45 years were included, and three levels of physical activity were established. Logistic models were developed to identify sociodemographic characteristic that may be associated with a higher probability of worse PA behaviors during the social distancing.
Over 46% respondents could be described as being Physically Inactivity during 2018 and this proportion increased to 67.2% in 2020. Respondents who live in the Northeast or rural regions, having a spouse, being employed, having a low level of education, and being of low-income level showed a higher decrease in physical activity compared to other groups. However, individuals living with chronic diseases emerge as being more likely to maintain positive habits with respect to physical activity in this context.
Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced the extent of physical activity among middle-aged to older Chinese residents. This is especially true in respect to middle-aged and elderly people who are at increased risk of chronic diseases. Given this, there is a clear need to consider effective modalities for physical activity in the context of social distancing based on home quarantine and city lockdown. Furthermore, specific health-related strategies need to be considered in relation to different regions and populations.
群体体育活动是帮助中年和老年人定期进行身体活动的一个重要积极因素，尤其是在人口众多且社交环境活跃的社会中。然而，当群体体育活动在传染病大流行等公共卫生危机期间受到限制时，需要认识到社交距离对这一弱势群体身体活动的影响。
本研究旨在调查社交距离对全国范围内中年和老年中国人身体活动的影响。
使用了一项具有全国代表性的社会随访调查（中国家庭追踪调查，CFPS）的 2018 年和 2020 年的数据。将 2018 年的身体活动水平设定为基线，与 2020 年每个个体的水平进行比较，当时中国在新冠肺炎疫情期间实施了社交距离措施。纳入年龄大于 45 岁的中国人群，并建立了三个身体活动水平。采用逻辑模型来确定可能与社交距离期间身体活动行为变差的更高可能性相关的社会人口特征。
超过 46%的受访者在 2018 年被描述为身体不活跃，这一比例在 2020 年增加到 67.2%。与其他群体相比，居住在东北地区或农村地区、有配偶、有工作、受教育程度低和收入水平低的受访者，身体活动减少的幅度更高。然而，在这种情况下，患有慢性疾病的个体更有可能保持积极的身体活动习惯。
新冠肺炎疫情期间的社交距离措施对中国中年和老年人的身体活动程度产生了显著影响。对于患有慢性疾病风险增加的中老年人来说尤其如此。鉴于此，需要考虑在家庭隔离和城市封锁的背景下，基于社交距离的有效身体活动模式。此外，还需要针对不同地区和人群考虑特定的健康相关策略。
