Depression Linked to Decrease in Physical Activity During Pandemic
Subjects average steps decreased from 10,000 to 4,600 steps per day
Depression rates among young adults became twice the rate of the general population
Physical activity decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to increased depression.
The study was conducted on 682 college students from multiple cohorts before (February 2019) and during the pandemic (July2020). Participants answered multiple surveys about their well-being and time use. They also received wearable devices (Fitbit) and installed a custom-made smartphone application on their phone to track activity levels.
Depression Linked to Decrease in Physical Activity During Pandemic
Compared to pre-pandemic levels, depression rates saw a steep incline by 90% from March 2020 to June 2020. Fitbit data was used to understand mobility s role in mental health.