Research Impact: The COVID-19 pandemic has elicited changes to how and even whether we work. How COVID-19-related changes in employment conditions are associated with activity behaviours has remained unstudied. Among 2,303 US adults employed prior to COVID-19, compared to those whose employment remained unchanged, participants who either began working from home (WFH) or lost their job reported both higher sitting and screen time. Given evidence that these sedentary behaviours are consistently associated with worsened current and future physical and mental health, significantly increased sedentary time due to employment changes is a public health concern that warrants additional consideration and investigation.
McDowell CP, Herring MP, Lansing J, Brower C, Meyer JD (2020). Working from home and job loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic are associated with greater time in sedentary behaviours. Frontiers of Public Health, 8:597619. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.597619. (IF: 2.483; C=; Q2 Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; R=71/193)
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