Sitting a lot makes you feel more anxious, prone to depression

As people adhered to stay-at-home or self-isolation requirements during the early stages of the Covid-19 outbreak, daily commutes were 'packed' into bedrooms and living rooms.

The pandemic has made many people less active. Recently published research shows that people who spend more time sitting between April and June 2020 are more likely to experience depressive symptoms.

Sitting is a behavior that can be performed all the time without thinking, said Jacob Meyer, an assistant professor at Iowa State University (ISU) and lead author of the study .

Participants felt their mental health improved in about eight weeks.

As Director of the Health and Exercise Laboratory at ISU, Meyer and colleagues looked at how physical activity and sedentary behaviors are related to mental health. They also learn about how those changes affect the way people think, feel, and perceive the world.

To get an overview, researchers surveyed more than 3,000 study participants in 50 US states. Participants reported how much time they spent doing activities, such as sitting, looking at screens, and exercising.

They also report how those behaviors have changed compared to pre-pandemic times. Participants also reported changes to their mental health, such as depression, anxiety, feelings of stress, and loneliness.

'We know when people's physical activity and device time are changing. It has to do with their mental health , ' Mr Meyer said.

Survey data shows that participants were meeting the US Physical Activity Guidelines (i.e., getting 2.5-5 hours of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week) prior to the pandemic. However, Covid-19 reduced their physical activity by an average of 32%. Participants also reported feeling more depressed, anxious and lonely.

The results of the study showed that participants felt their mental health improved in about 8 weeks.

'People have adapted to life during the pandemic. However, for people who spend a lot of time sitting, their depressive symptoms don't rebound in the same way as others,' Meyer said.

Mr. Meyer expressed hope, more people will realize that just a little exercise can improve mood and mental health. This expert recommends, people should take breaks when sitting for long periods of time.