COVID-19 lockdown greatly distresses, affects quality of life, according to Australian study

A new study on the health conditions of adults after one month of the COVID-19 lockdown has shown surprising levels of distress, lower physical and mental health, and lower life satisfaction. The results were compiled by researchers from the University of Adelaide and the University of Sydney in Australia, and Tongji University in China, of about 370 adults living under one-month of confinement measures due to COVID-19, in 64 cities in China.

More than a quarter of the participants studied remained at the office during the lockdown period while 38% worked from home and another 25% stopped work – adults with existing health conditions and those who stopped working were identified as most at risk of decreased mental and physical health. It was also noted that adults living in locations more affected by COVID-19 expressed negative life satisfaction, especially among adults with chronic medical issues, but not for those without existing health issues.Additionally, the results could offer insight into the mental health of Australian residents “once they have been under lockdown for one month.”

Professor Andreas Rauch from the University of Sydney said, “We weren’t surprised that adults who stopped working reported worse mental and physical health conditions as well as distress. Work can provide people with a sense of purpose and routine, which is immensely important during a global pandemic.”

The researchers also made a surprising find: study participants, in more affected locations, who exercised for more than 2.5 hours per day reported worse life satisfaction while those who exercised for half an hour or less, during the lockdown, reported positive life satisfaction.

Dr. Stephen Zhang from the University of Adelaide chimes in, “It is possible that adults who exercise less can better justify or rationalise their inactive lifestyles in more severely affected cities. These early findings suggest we need to pay attention to more physically active individuals, who might be more frustrated by the restrictions.”

Category: Education, Features