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Description

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a “state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Previous studies have indicated both mental health and overall physical health can decline due to heightened sedentary behavior. This project investigates these concepts further by analyzing individual’s perceptions of their overall physical and mental health during the pandemic using Qualtrics and R. Participants aged 18 and older (n > 200) provided pre- and post-quarantine data with subgroup comparisons by gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, residence, and coping mechanisms. Initial results revealed a significant decline in perceived overall health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical and mental health declined for 39% of participants. Of the participants who reported a slightly worsened mental health, 83% reported a decrease in social engagement. Of the participants that reported poor mental health at the end of quarantine, 80% reported that they experienced loss and grief as well as loneliness during the quarantine. Among those who reported their physical health worsened over the course of the pandemic, 58% reported a poor diet. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the health impacts of COVID-19, which can guide future patient care and inform policies for potential quarantines. For example, addressing the decline in physical health and poor dietary habits could involve implementing grocery delivery services to ensure access to nutritious foods for all individuals. These measures may help mitigate the adverse effects observed in our study and during public health emergencies.

Disciplines

COVID-19

Document Type

Poster

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COVID-19 Commons

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The Multifaceted Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Perceptions of Overall Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a “state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Previous studies have indicated both mental health and overall physical health can decline due to heightened sedentary behavior. This project investigates these concepts further by analyzing individual’s perceptions of their overall physical and mental health during the pandemic using Qualtrics and R. Participants aged 18 and older (n > 200) provided pre- and post-quarantine data with subgroup comparisons by gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, residence, and coping mechanisms. Initial results revealed a significant decline in perceived overall health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical and mental health declined for 39% of participants. Of the participants who reported a slightly worsened mental health, 83% reported a decrease in social engagement. Of the participants that reported poor mental health at the end of quarantine, 80% reported that they experienced loss and grief as well as loneliness during the quarantine. Among those who reported their physical health worsened over the course of the pandemic, 58% reported a poor diet. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the health impacts of COVID-19, which can guide future patient care and inform policies for potential quarantines. For example, addressing the decline in physical health and poor dietary habits could involve implementing grocery delivery services to ensure access to nutritious foods for all individuals. These measures may help mitigate the adverse effects observed in our study and during public health emergencies.