Effects of COVID-19 lockdown on physical activity and satisfaction with life in Qatar: a preliminary study

This study examined effects of home confinement on physical activity (PA) and life satisfaction during the COVID-19 outbreak in Qatar. A total of 1144 subjects participated (male: n=588; female: n=556; age: 33.1 ± 11.1 years; mass: 76.1 ± 16.4 kg; height: 1.70 ± 0.11 m; BMI: 26.1 ± 4.44  kg/m²). Online survey questions considered “before” and “during” confinement. Confinement reduced all PA intensities (η_p²=0.27-0.67, p<0.001) and increased daily sitting time from 3.57 ± 1.47 to 6.32 ± 1.33 hours per weekday (η_p²=0.67, p<0.001). The largest reduction was detected for the sum parameter all physical activity (minutes per week, η_p²=0.67, p<0.001; MET-minutes/week, η_p²=0.69,p<0.001). Life satisfaction decreased, with the score for "I am satisfied with my life" (η_p²=0.76,p<0.001) decreasing from 28.1 ± 4.81 to 14.2 ± 6.41 arbitrary units (AU). Concerning life satisfaction, the largest change was detected for the statement “the conditions of my life are excellent” (d_male=7.93). For all parameters, time effects were indicative of large negative effects in both genders. In terms of magnitude, the difference between gender was greatest for the parameter “the conditions of my life are excellent” (difference between groups, d=4.84). In conclusion, COVID-19 confinement decreased PA, increased sitting time, and decreased life satisfaction in Qatar. These precautionary findings explicate the risk of psychosocial impairment and the potential physical harm of reducing physical activity during early COVID-19 confinement in 2020.