Impact of lifestyle on psychological and physiological status of individuals during lockdown

Abstract

Background: Studies prove that individuals' psychological and physiological health is affected during lockdown which is due to their loss of autonomy, fear of disease, and reduced physical activity. Objective: The objective of this study was to find the possible impact that an individual's lifestyle has on his physiological and psychological status during this lockdown. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was designed with questions interrogating their demographics and assessing their lifestyle, hobbies, their stress level, musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and how they spent their time during this lockdown. The self-administered questionnaire was circulated online to people of both genders on all platforms. Results: The results showed that those who smoke were more distressed and experienced more pain than those who do not (P < 0.05). People with elevated blood pressure, diabetes, and other musculoskeletal pain were more stressed and experienced more pain and fatigue than those who were healthy (P < 0.005). People who practiced exercising and yoga were less stressed and stayed active with less or no pain and discomfort than the sedentary people (P < 0.05). Those who spend their time gardening and housekeeping felt healthier and more emotionally stable than the others (P < 0.05). The emotional disturbance had a weak positive significant correlation with onscreen time, sleep duration, and activities of daily living (ADL) limitation. Pain severity and fatigue had a weak positive significant correlation with onscreen time, sleep duration, and ADL limitation. Conclusion: People with increased physical activity and habit of regular exercise, yoga, and meditation were psychologically and physiologically healthier and were less affected by lockdown than the people with a sedentary lifestyle.