The impact of COVID-19 on mental health and lifestyle for the population of Kaunas city

Justification: Nationwide lockdowns, encompassing mass quarantine under stay-at-home ordinances, have already been proven effective to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. A prolonged homestay may also be associated with potential side effects, which may jeopardize people's health. Some of undesirable consequences of prolonged homestay can be physical inactivity, behavioral addiction disorders and social isolation (Lippi,et. al., 2020). Aim of the study – to analyze the COVID-19 impact on mental health and lifestyle for the population of Kaunas city Task: 1. compare lifestyle of population of Kaunas city before and during COVID-19 pandemic. 2. compare mental health of population of Kaunas city before and during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods of research: anonymous online survey, which included questions on demographics, eating habits, alcohol and tabaco consumption, physical activity (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire), sleep quality (Pittsburgh sleep quality index) and mental health (Patient Health Questionnaire – 9). Results: the study involved 388 respondents from Kaunas city. Women accounted for 80,7 %, men – 19,3 % respondents. Average of sedentary behavior during pandemic - 430, 93 ± 233,47 min., before pandemic - 324, 42 ± 216,21 min. (p <0,05). Average of moderate-intensity physical activity (PA) before pandemic 122,40 ± 148,98 min., and during pandemic - 85,33 ± 98,08 min. (p<0,05). Average of vigorous-intensity PA during pandemic - 21,20 ± 34,13 min, and before - 47,13 ± 104,08 (p<0,05). The consumption of fast food on daily basis before pandemic - 0,8 %, during pandemic – 1,5 % (p<0,05). Before pandemic 15,7 % of respondents overate, during pandemic - 30,2 % of respondents (p<0,05). Before pandemic 1,8% of respondents consumed alcohol every day, during pandemic – 3,4 % of respondents (p<0,05). Symptoms of depression: 7,26 ± 1,46 points before pandemic and 10,40 ± 2,20 points during pandemic (p<0,05). Quality of sleep: 5,73 ± 2,20 points before pandemic and 6,44 ± 2,99 during pandemic (p<0,05). Conclusion: 1. The sedentary behavior increased, while moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity PA – decreased (p<0,05) during the pandemic. The consumption of fruits and fast food increased during the pandemic (p<0,05) as well as the daily consumption of alcohol (p<0,05). 2. The symptoms of depression were evaluated as mild (5-9 points) before the pandemic, and as moderate (10-14 points) during the pandemic (p<0,05). The quality of sleep was evaluated as worse during the pandemic than before the pandemic (p