Lifestyle changes among older adults during and after COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania
The aim of this studyto analyze lifestyle changes among older adults during and after COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania, with a particular focus on eating habits, physical activity, social engagement and harmful habits.MethodsThe representative sample of Lithuanian population over 65 years old (1,503 i...
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| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1504193/full |
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| author | Skirmante Sauliune Ramune Kalediene Vytenis Kalibatas Snieguole Kaseliene Olga Mesceriakova |
| author_facet | Skirmante Sauliune Ramune Kalediene Vytenis Kalibatas Snieguole Kaseliene Olga Mesceriakova |
| author_sort | Skirmante Sauliune |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this studyto analyze lifestyle changes among older adults during and after COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania, with a particular focus on eating habits, physical activity, social engagement and harmful habits.MethodsThe representative sample of Lithuanian population over 65 years old (1,503 individuals) was involved in the questionnaire survey, performed in January 2024.ResultsMost of the eating habits and the body weight of the older adults did not change during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania. Respondents noted that their physical activity decreased, face-to-face communication became rarer, while remote communication increased. During pandemic, the increased frequency of snacking was more often indicated by persons with lower than secondary education, working, receiving higher incomes, as well as increased snacking and body weight were more prevalent among younger, single or overweight persons; increased body weight during the pandemic was more often mentioned by the persons who assessed their health poorly. Physical activity decreased more often among rural residents and groups with higher or college education; face-to-face communication has become rarer among younger people, rural residents, pensioners, disabled, people with higher income and those with overweight, while remote communication has increased among women, respondents with a university education and those with an average income (p < 0.05). Nearly half of the respondents indicated that the changes in food consumption and smoking frequency that occurred during the pandemic remained after it. After the pandemic, the habits of consuming fast food, confectionery or other sweets and changes in body weight mostly remained, while the patterns of communication returned to the pre-pandemic level. Most of the healthy lifestyle habits formed during the pandemic persisted after the pandemic. The lifestyle habits formed during the pandemic remained more stable in the groups of older persons, residents of smaller towns, respondents with lower than secondary education, higher income, singles, disabled, obese, and those who assessed their health poorly (p < 0.05).ConclusionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania, there were various changes in eating habits, physical activity, communication patterns, and harmful habits. Certain habits formed during the pandemic continued afterward, particularly among specific groups of the older Lithuanian adults. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-843fd28719da4c90b44e43fc077d31c0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-843fd28719da4c90b44e43fc077d31c02025-01-06T06:59:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-01-011210.3389/fpubh.2024.15041931504193Lifestyle changes among older adults during and after COVID-19 pandemic in LithuaniaSkirmante SauliuneRamune KaledieneVytenis KalibatasSnieguole KaselieneOlga MesceriakovaThe aim of this studyto analyze lifestyle changes among older adults during and after COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania, with a particular focus on eating habits, physical activity, social engagement and harmful habits.MethodsThe representative sample of Lithuanian population over 65 years old (1,503 individuals) was involved in the questionnaire survey, performed in January 2024.ResultsMost of the eating habits and the body weight of the older adults did not change during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania. Respondents noted that their physical activity decreased, face-to-face communication became rarer, while remote communication increased. During pandemic, the increased frequency of snacking was more often indicated by persons with lower than secondary education, working, receiving higher incomes, as well as increased snacking and body weight were more prevalent among younger, single or overweight persons; increased body weight during the pandemic was more often mentioned by the persons who assessed their health poorly. Physical activity decreased more often among rural residents and groups with higher or college education; face-to-face communication has become rarer among younger people, rural residents, pensioners, disabled, people with higher income and those with overweight, while remote communication has increased among women, respondents with a university education and those with an average income (p < 0.05). Nearly half of the respondents indicated that the changes in food consumption and smoking frequency that occurred during the pandemic remained after it. After the pandemic, the habits of consuming fast food, confectionery or other sweets and changes in body weight mostly remained, while the patterns of communication returned to the pre-pandemic level. Most of the healthy lifestyle habits formed during the pandemic persisted after the pandemic. The lifestyle habits formed during the pandemic remained more stable in the groups of older persons, residents of smaller towns, respondents with lower than secondary education, higher income, singles, disabled, obese, and those who assessed their health poorly (p < 0.05).ConclusionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania, there were various changes in eating habits, physical activity, communication patterns, and harmful habits. Certain habits formed during the pandemic continued afterward, particularly among specific groups of the older Lithuanian adults.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1504193/fullCOVID-19pandemiclifestyleeating habitsphysical activitysocial engagement |
| spellingShingle | Skirmante Sauliune Ramune Kalediene Vytenis Kalibatas Snieguole Kaseliene Olga Mesceriakova Lifestyle changes among older adults during and after COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania Frontiers in Public Health COVID-19 pandemic lifestyle eating habits physical activity social engagement |
| title | Lifestyle changes among older adults during and after COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania |
| title_full | Lifestyle changes among older adults during and after COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania |
| title_fullStr | Lifestyle changes among older adults during and after COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lifestyle changes among older adults during and after COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania |
| title_short | Lifestyle changes among older adults during and after COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania |
| title_sort | lifestyle changes among older adults during and after covid 19 pandemic in lithuania |
| topic | COVID-19 pandemic lifestyle eating habits physical activity social engagement |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1504193/full |
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