A1 Journal article (refereed)
Personality Traits and Changes in Health Behaviors and Depressive Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic : A Longitudinal Analysis from Pre-pandemic to Onset and End of the Initial Emergency Conditions in Finland (2021)
Kekäläinen, T., Hietavala, E.-M., Hakamäki, M., Sipilä, S., Laakkonen, E. K., & Kokko, K. (2021). Personality Traits and Changes in Health Behaviors and Depressive Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic : A Longitudinal Analysis from Pre-pandemic to Onset and End of the Initial Emergency Conditions in Finland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(15), Article 7732. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18157732
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Kekäläinen, Tiia; Hietavala, Enni-Maria; Hakamäki, Matti; Sipilä, Sarianna; Laakkonen, Eija K.; Kokko, Katja
Journal or series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
ISSN: 1661-7827
eISSN: 1660-4601
Publication year: 2021
Publication date: 21/07/2021
Volume: 18
Issue number: 15
Article number: 7732
Publisher: MDPI AG
Publication country: Switzerland
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18157732
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Open Access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/77215
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures targeting the transmission of the virus impacted everyday life in 2020. This study investigated pre- to in-pandemic changes in health behaviors and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of personality traits in these changes in Finland. Data from a larger population-based cohort study of 51–59-year-old Finnish women were used (n = 358). Self-reported questionnaires gathered information about depressive symptoms, eating behavior, physical activity, and alcohol consumption before the pandemic time, at the onset, and at the end of the COVID-19 emergency conditions. Information about personality traits (extraversion and neuroticism) and sociodemographic factors was available from the pre-pandemic baseline. Women reported more depressive symptoms and unhealthier eating habits at the end of the emergency conditions compared to the pre-pandemic time. An increase in depressive symptoms was associated with changing to unhealthier eating habits. Higher extraversion was associated with a perceived decrease in alcohol consumption and with changing to healthier eating habits. Women with higher neuroticism reported changing to either healthier or unhealthier eating habits. In general, some women reported healthier lifestyle changes while other women reported the opposite. Personality traits help to understand these individual differences in adaptation to the pandemic situation.
Keywords: health behaviour; COVID-19; lifestyle; food habits; physical activity; personality; personality traits; alcohol use; mental health; depression (mental disorders); adaptation (change); pandemics
Free keywords: COVID-19; lifestyle; mental health; exercise; eating; alcohol; personality
Contributing organizations
Related projects
- Personality as a predictor of physical activity in middle-aged and old people: When and why? (The PATHWAY project)
- Kokko, Katja
- Ministry of Education and Culture
- Female steroid hormone mediaterd regulation of apoptosis as a mechanism of muscle aging and sarkopenia
- Kovanen, Vuokko
- Research Council of Finland
- Risk of metabolic dysfunction in middle aged women: physical activity and systemic and intracrine estrogen and microRNAs as mediating factors
- Laakkonen, Eija
- Research Council of Finland
- Risk of metabolic dysfunction in middle aged women: systemic and intracrine oestrogen and microRNAs as mediating factors (EsmiRs)
- Laakkonen, Eija
- Research Council of Finland
- Developmental Psychological Perspectives on Transitions at Age 60: Individuals Navigating Across the Lifespan
- Kokko, Katja
- Research Council of Finland
Related research datasets
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2021
JUFO rating: 1