HEALTH HABITS AND ADAPTATION TO THE COVID PANDEMIC IN MEXICO

Objective. To know the effects of the pandemic on eating habits, sleep and physical activity and its influence on adaptation to the same. Method. It is a cross-sectional, correlational, comparative and predictive study, with an intentional sample of 7,439 people, 69.9% women and 30.1% men, with a mean age of 36.9. The instrument used (a =.81), measures health, eating, exercise and sleep habits (a = .61), as well as adaptation to confinement (a = .65). Results. 52% of the participants decreased their physical activity, sleep difficulties were reported by 58%, a 29.3% of participants reported negative changes in their diet and 8.6% reported difficulties in adapting to confinement. The habit that best predicts adaptation to the pandemic was sleep, followed by dietary changes and finally physical activity. Conclusions. It is important to maintain healthy habits as protective factors and for their influence in the adaptation to the pandemic. © 2022 Universidad Miguel Hernandez. All rights reserved.

The effect of the Australian bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic on health behaviours in people with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Crises and disasters disproportionally impact people with chronic health conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Australian Black Summer Bushfires on health behaviours in people with MS. METHODS: People with MS, carers, healthcare and advocacy professionals were recruited online between May-July 2020 for an online survey and telephone interviews. RESULTS: Survey items relating to health behaviours were completed by 113 people with MS, and 18 people with MS, 4 MS advocates, 5 healthcare professionals, and 2 carers were interviewed. The bushfires affected 34.5% and the pandemic affected 74.3% of survey participants with MS. The pandemic and bushfires caused a decrease in physical activity in 53.8% and 55.3% of participants respectively, as well as increases in unhealthy eating (43.6% and 24.3% respectively) and alcohol consumption (35.4% and 10.5% respectively), and a decrease in typical sleeping patterns (40.5% and 39.5% respectively). Conversely, 27.5% of participants reported an increase in physical activity during the pandemic. Interview data detailed the circumstances and motivations for changes in health behaviours, as well as consequences, including reduced mobility, fitness, mood disturbances, and weight gain. CONCLUSION: There is a need to increase support and health promotion for people with MS to maintain or initiate positive health behaviours, especially in times of adversity.