![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/b897f737-edc2-3388-b717-17abe90237ec-300x200.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nHigh extraversion was linked to a decrease in alcohol consumption<\/p>\n
A recent study from the University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4 shows that among middle-aged women depressive symptoms increased and eating became more irregular but alcohol consumption remained unchanged during the emergency conditions in spring 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic affected people in different ways, with some experiencing their lifestyles becoming healthier and some unhealthier. Personality was found to play a role in these changes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyday life for a year and a half. Two recent studies examined changes in the health behaviors and depressive symptoms of middle-aged Finns as well as the role of personality in these changes.<\/p>\n
In the first study, middle-aged women’s health behaviors and depressive symptoms were examined before the pandemic as well as at the onset and at the end of the COVID-19 emergency conditions in Finland (March\u2013June 2020). Middle-aged women reported more depressive symptoms and more irregular eating habits at the end of the emergency conditions than before the pandemic. On the other hand, no changes in alcohol use and leisure time physical activity were observed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe found these adverse changes to accumulate partly for the same people,\u201d postdoctoral researcher Tiia Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen<\/strong> from the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4, says. \u201cFor example, in women who had unhealthier changes in eating habits, depressive symptoms and alcohol use also increased.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked for self-perceived changes in physical activity during the pandemic, slightly less than half of the women said they had decreased their physical activity, about a third reported no changes and a fifth increased their physical activity.<\/p>\n In another study, changes in physical activity were investigated among both women and men. The results were similar, though nearly half reported that their physical activity remained unchanged. Women were more likely than men to report both increasing and decreasing physical activity, while men more often reported that their physical activity remained unchanged.<\/p>\n Both studies also looked at the role of personality traits in adaption to the pandemic situation. More extroverted women reported decreased alcohol use and healthier changes in their eating habits than did less extroverted women. Women with high scores in neuroticism reported both healthier and unhealthier changes in their eating habits.<\/p>\n \u201cAvoiding social contacts was strongly recommended during the emergency conditions and, for example, restaurants were partially closed,\u201d Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen says. \u201cThe decrease in meeting friends and eating out may explain the change to healthier eating habits and lower alcohol use among extroverted women.<\/p>\n \u201cNeuroticism is characterized by negative effects such as anxiety and a susceptibility to stress. During the pandemic, such characteristics may have caused unhealthy habits such as emotional eating, or, conversely, careful following of a diet.\u201d<\/p>\n In the second dataset, extroversion and, in particular, a facet of it called activity was linked to changes in physical activity: activity was linked to both an increase and a decrease in physical activity.<\/p>\n \u201cThe activity facet reflects a tendency to live a busy life with a rapid tempo,\u201d says Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen. \u201cRestrictions during the pandemic and cancelled hobbies and events may have offered opportunities to spend more time on physical activity. For others, cancelled physical activities and less frequent going from one place to another may have caused a decrease in physical activity.\u201d<\/p>\n The first study utilized data from 358 women. Women aged 51 to 59 were part of the Estrogen, Micro-RNAs and the Risk of Metabolic Dysfunction (EsmiRs) <\/a>follow-up study. Self-reported data on health behaviors, depressive symptoms and personality traits were available from the pre-pandemic time. Participants reported health behaviors and changes in them and depressive symptoms at the onset (March 2020) and at the end (June 2020) of emergency conditions in Finland.<\/p>\n The second dataset consisted of 168 women and men around the age of 61 who participated in the latest data collection of the Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4 Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development (JYLS)<\/a> between April 2020 and April 2021. Participants reported physical activity and changes in it during the pandemic as part of a larger interview and personality was assessed by a self-reported questionnaire.<\/p>\n The publications have been created as part of the PATHWAY project<\/a> funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland. The EsmiRs and JYLS (Trails project) studies are funded by the Academy of Finland.<\/p>\n Tiia Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen, Enni-Maria Hietavala, Matti Hakam\u00e4ki, Sarianna Sipil\u00e4, Eija Laakkonen & Katja Kokko. 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, 2021, 18(15), 7732. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph18157732<\/a><\/p>\n Tiia Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen, Sarianna Sipil\u00e4, Milla Saajanaho ja Katja Kokko. The role of personality traits in leisure time physical activity during COVID-19 pandemic. Personality and Individual Differences 2021, 182, 11080. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.paid.2021.111080<\/a><\/p>\n Tiia Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen, PhD Picture: University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"High extraversion was linked to a decrease in alcohol consumption\r\n\r\nA recent study from the University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4 shows that among middle-aged women depressive symptoms increased and eating became more irregular but alcohol consumption remained unchanged during the emergency conditions in spring 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic affected people in different ways, with some experiencing their lifestyles becoming healthier and some unhealthier. Personality was found to play a role in these changes.\r\n\r\nWomen were more likely to change their physical activity than men were<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Personality plays a role in adaption to a pandemic situation<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Original articles:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Further information: <\/strong><\/h3>\n
\ntiia.m.kekalainen@jyu.fi<\/a>, +358 40 652 2280
\nGerontology Research Center
\nFaculty of Sport and Health Sciences<\/p>\n\r\n\r\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyday life for a year and a half. Two recent studies examined changes in the health behaviors and depressive symptoms of middle-aged Finns as well as the role of personality in these changes.\r\n\r\nIn the first study, middle-aged women's health behaviors and depressive symptoms were examined before the pandemic as well as at the onset and at the end of the COVID-19 emergency conditions in Finland (March\u2013June 2020). Middle-aged women reported more depressive symptoms and more irregular eating habits at the end of the emergency conditions than before the pandemic. On the other hand, no changes in alcohol use and leisure time physical activity were observed.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe found these adverse changes to accumulate partly for the same people,\u201d postdoctoral researcher Tiia Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen<\/strong> from the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4, says. \u201cFor example, in women who had unhealthier changes in eating habits, depressive symptoms and alcohol use also increased.\u201d\r\nWomen were more likely to change their physical activity than men were<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nWhen asked for self-perceived changes in physical activity during the pandemic, slightly less than half of the women said they had decreased their physical activity, about a third reported no changes and a fifth increased their physical activity.\r\n\r\nIn another study, changes in physical activity were investigated among both women and men. The results were similar, though nearly half reported that their physical activity remained unchanged. Women were more likely than men to report both increasing and decreasing physical activity, while men more often reported that their physical activity remained unchanged.\r\n
Personality plays a role in adaption to a pandemic situation<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nBoth studies also looked at the role of personality traits in adaption to the pandemic situation. More extroverted women reported decreased alcohol use and healthier changes in their eating habits than did less extroverted women. Women with high scores in neuroticism reported both healthier and unhealthier changes in their eating habits.\r\n\r\n\u201cAvoiding social contacts was strongly recommended during the emergency conditions and, for example, restaurants were partially closed,\u201d Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen says. \u201cThe decrease in meeting friends and eating out may explain the change to healthier eating habits and lower alcohol use among extroverted women.\r\n\r\n\u201cNeuroticism is characterized by negative effects such as anxiety and a susceptibility to stress. During the pandemic, such characteristics may have caused unhealthy habits such as emotional eating, or, conversely, careful following of a diet.\u201d\r\n\r\nIn the second dataset, extroversion and, in particular, a facet of it called activity was linked to changes in physical activity: activity was linked to both an increase and a decrease in physical activity.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe activity facet reflects a tendency to live a busy life with a rapid tempo,\u201d says Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen. \u201cRestrictions during the pandemic and cancelled hobbies and events may have offered opportunities to spend more time on physical activity. For others, cancelled physical activities and less frequent going from one place to another may have caused a decrease in physical activity.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe first study utilized data from 358 women. Women aged 51 to 59 were part of the Estrogen, Micro-RNAs and the Risk of Metabolic Dysfunction (EsmiRs) <\/a>follow-up study. Self-reported data on health behaviors, depressive symptoms and personality traits were available from the pre-pandemic time. Participants reported health behaviors and changes in them and depressive symptoms at the onset (March 2020) and at the end (June 2020) of emergency conditions in Finland.\r\n\r\nThe second dataset consisted of 168 women and men around the age of 61 who participated in the latest data collection of the Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4 Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development (JYLS)<\/a> between April 2020 and April 2021. Participants reported physical activity and changes in it during the pandemic as part of a larger interview and personality was assessed by a self-reported questionnaire.\r\n\r\nThe publications have been created as part of the PATHWAY project<\/a> funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland. The EsmiRs and JYLS (Trails project) studies are funded by the Academy of Finland.\r\n
Original articles:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nTiia Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen, Enni-Maria Hietavala, Matti Hakam\u00e4ki, Sarianna Sipil\u00e4, Eija Laakkonen & Katja Kokko. 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, 2021, 18(15), 7732. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph18157732<\/a>\r\n\r\nTiia Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen, Sarianna Sipil\u00e4, Milla Saajanaho ja Katja Kokko. The role of personality traits in leisure time physical activity during COVID-19 pandemic. Personality and Individual Differences 2021, 182, 11080. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.paid.2021.111080<\/a>\r\n
Further information: <\/strong><\/h3>\r\nTiia Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen, PhD\r\ntiia.m.kekalainen@jyu.fi<\/a>, +358 40 652 2280\r\nGerontology Research Center\r\nFaculty of Sport and Health Sciences\r\n\r\nPicture: University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Juuri julkaistussa Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopiston tutkimuksessa havaittiin, ett\u00e4 keski-ik\u00e4isten naisten masennusoireet lis\u00e4\u00e4ntyiv\u00e4t ja ruokailu muuttui ep\u00e4s\u00e4\u00e4nn\u00f6llisemm\u00e4ksi mutta alkoholin k\u00e4ytt\u00f6 pysyi ennallaan poikkeusolojen aikana. Koronapandemia vaikutti ihmisiin eri tavoin, sill\u00e4 osa koki elintapojensa muuttuneen terveellisemmiksi ja osa ep\u00e4terveellisemmiksi. Persoonallisuudella havaittiin olevan merkityst\u00e4…","protected":false,"raw":""},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_fi_post_content":"Juuri julkaistussa Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopiston tutkimuksessa havaittiin, ett\u00e4 keski-ik\u00e4isten naisten masennusoireet lis\u00e4\u00e4ntyiv\u00e4t ja ruokailu muuttui ep\u00e4s\u00e4\u00e4nn\u00f6llisemm\u00e4ksi mutta alkoholin k\u00e4ytt\u00f6 pysyi ennallaan poikkeusolojen aikana. Koronapandemia vaikutti ihmisiin eri tavoin, sill\u00e4 osa koki elintapojensa muuttuneen terveellisemmiksi ja osa ep\u00e4terveellisemmiksi. Persoonallisuudella havaittiin olevan merkityst\u00e4 n\u00e4ihin muutoksiin. Ulosp\u00e4insuuntautuneemmat naiset v\u00e4hensiv\u00e4t alkoholin k\u00e4ytt\u00f6\u00e4\u00e4n.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nKoronapandemian aiheuttamat muutokset ovat vaikuttaneet arkiel\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n jo puolentoista vuoden ajan. Kaksi tuoretta tutkimusta selvitti koronapandemian aikaisia muutoksia keski-ik\u00e4isten suomalaisten elintavoissa ja masennusoireissa sek\u00e4 persoonallisuuden roolista n\u00e4iss\u00e4 muutoksissa.\r\n\r\nEnsimm\u00e4isess\u00e4 tutkimuksessa keski-ik\u00e4isten naisten elintapoja ja masennusoireita kartoitettiin ennen korona-aikaa sek\u00e4 maaliskuusta kes\u00e4kuuhun 2020 vallinneiden poikkeusolojen alussa ja lopussa. Keski-ik\u00e4iset naiset raportoivat enemm\u00e4n masennusoireita ja ep\u00e4s\u00e4\u00e4nn\u00f6llisemp\u00e4\u00e4 ruokailurytmi\u00e4 poikkeusolojen loppupuolella kuin ennen pandemiaa. Toisaalta alkoholin k\u00e4yt\u00f6ss\u00e4 ja vapaa-ajan fyysisess\u00e4 aktiivisuudessa muutoksia ei havaittu.\r\n\r\n\u2013 Havaitsimme n\u00e4iden ep\u00e4suotuisien muutosten kasautuvan osittain samoille ihmisille. Esimerkiksi niill\u00e4 naisilla, joilla ruokailu muuttui ep\u00e4s\u00e4\u00e4nn\u00f6llisemm\u00e4ksi, my\u00f6s masennusoireet ja alkoholin k\u00e4ytt\u00f6 lis\u00e4\u00e4ntyiv\u00e4t, tutkijatohtori Tiia Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen<\/strong> Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopiston liikuntatieteellisest\u00e4 tiedekunnasta sanoo.\r\nNaisilla tapahtui fyysisess\u00e4 aktiivisuudessa enemm\u00e4n muutoksia kuin miehill\u00e4<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nKysytt\u00e4ess\u00e4 omaa arviota fyysisen aktiivisuuden muutoksista korona-aikana hieman vajaa puolet naisista kertoi v\u00e4hent\u00e4neens\u00e4 liikkumista koronapandemian my\u00f6t\u00e4, noin kolmasosa sen pysyneen ennallaan ja viidennes lis\u00e4nneens\u00e4 liikkumista.\r\n\r\nToisessa tutkimuksessa fyysisen aktiivisuuden muutoksia selvitettiin sek\u00e4 naisilla ett\u00e4 miehill\u00e4. Tulokset olivat samansuuntaisia, vaikkakin l\u00e4hes puolet raportoi liikkumisensa pysyneen l\u00e4hes ennallaan. Naiset raportoivat miehi\u00e4 enemm\u00e4n sek\u00e4 lis\u00e4nneens\u00e4 ett\u00e4 v\u00e4hent\u00e4neens\u00e4 liikkumista, kun taas miehet useammin raportoivat liikkumisensa pysyneen ennallaan.\r\n
Persoonallisuudella on merkityst\u00e4 pandemiatilanteeseen sopeutumisessa<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nMolemmissa tutkimuksissa tarkasteltiin my\u00f6s persoonallisuuden piirteiden merkityst\u00e4 pandemiatilanteeseen sopeutumisessa. Ulosp\u00e4insuuntautuneemmat naiset raportoivat v\u00e4hent\u00e4neens\u00e4 alkoholin k\u00e4ytt\u00f6\u00e4 ja muuttaneensa ruokavaliotaan terveellisemp\u00e4\u00e4n suuntaan verrattuna v\u00e4hemm\u00e4n ulosp\u00e4insuuntautuneisiin naisiin. Vastaavasti korkeita pistem\u00e4\u00e4ri\u00e4 neuroottisuudessa saaneet naiset raportoivat sek\u00e4 my\u00f6nteisi\u00e4 ett\u00e4 kielteisi\u00e4 muutoksia ruokailutottumuksissaan.\r\n\r\n\u2013 Poikkeusolojen aikana suositeltiin vahvasti sosiaalisten kontaktien v\u00e4hent\u00e4mist\u00e4 ja esimerkiksi ravintolat olivat osittain suljettuina. Yst\u00e4vien tapaamisen ja ulkona sy\u00f6misen v\u00e4hentyminen voi selitt\u00e4\u00e4 ulosp\u00e4insuuntautuneempien naisten muutosta terveellisemp\u00e4\u00e4n ruokavalioon ja v\u00e4h\u00e4isemp\u00e4\u00e4n alkoholin k\u00e4ytt\u00f6\u00f6n, Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen pohtii.\r\n\r\n\u2013 Neuroottisuutta luonnehtivat esimerkiksi hermostuneisuus, ahdistuneisuus ja muut kielteiset tuntemukset. T\u00e4llaiset ominaisuudet ovat voineet pandemia-aikana n\u00e4ytt\u00e4yty\u00e4 sek\u00e4 tunnesy\u00f6misen\u00e4 ett\u00e4 toisaalta tarkkaavaisena ruokavalion seuraamisena, Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen jatkaa.\r\n\r\nToisessa aineistossa ulosp\u00e4insuuntautuneisuus ja erityisesti sen aktiivisuutta kuvaava alapiirre olivat yhteydess\u00e4 fyysisen aktiivisuuden muutoksiin: aktiivisuus oli yhteydess\u00e4 sek\u00e4 fyysisen aktiivisuuden lis\u00e4\u00e4ntymiseen ett\u00e4 v\u00e4hentymiseen.\r\n\r\n\u2013 Aktiivisuus-alapiirre kuvastaa taipumusta el\u00e4\u00e4 kiireist\u00e4 el\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4, jossa tapahtuu koko ajan. Korona-ajan rajoitukset ja erilaisten menojen v\u00e4hentyminen ovat voineet tarjota toisille mahdollisuuksia k\u00e4ytt\u00e4\u00e4 enemm\u00e4n aikaa fyysiseen aktiivisuuteen. Toisilla taas liikuntaharrastukset ovat voineet olla tauolla ja my\u00f6s paikasta toiseen liikkuminen v\u00e4henty\u00e4 pandemian my\u00f6t\u00e4, Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen sanoo.\r\n
N\u00e4in tutkittiin:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nEnsimm\u00e4isen tutkimuksen aineisto koostui 358 naisesta. I\u00e4lt\u00e4\u00e4n 51\u201359-vuotiaat naiset olivat osa Estrogeeni, mikro-RNA:t ja metabolisten toimintah\u00e4iri\u00f6iden riski (EsmiRs)<\/a> -seurantatutkimusta. Itsearviointiin pohjautuvista elintavoista, masennusoireista ja persoonallisuuden piirteist\u00e4 oli saatavilla tietoa EsmiRs-tutkimuksen perusmittauksista ajalta ennen koronaa. Elintapoja ja muutoksia niiss\u00e4 sek\u00e4 masennusoireita kysyttiin osallistujilta my\u00f6s heti poikkeusolojen alussa (maaliskuu 2020) ja lopussa (kes\u00e4kuu 2020).\r\n\r\nToisen tutkimuksen aineisto muodostui 168 noin 61-vuotiaasta naisesta ja miehest\u00e4, jotka osallistuivat Lapsesta aikuiseksi<\/a> -pitkitt\u00e4istutkimuksen viimeisimp\u00e4\u00e4n aineistonkeruuseen huhtikuun 2020 ja huhtikuun 2021 v\u00e4lill\u00e4. Liikkumista ja muutoksia liikkumisessa korona-aikana kysyttiin tutkittavilta osana laajempaa haastattelua ja persoonallisuutta arvioitiin itsearviointiin pohjautuvalla kyselyll\u00e4.\r\n\r\nJulkaisut on toteutettu osana opetus- ja kulttuuriministeri\u00f6n rahoittamaa PATHWAY-hanketta.<\/a> EsmiRs- ja Lapsesta aikuiseksi (TRAILS-hanke) -tutkimuksia rahoittaa Suomen Akatemia.\r\n
Alkuper\u00e4iset tutkimusartikkelit:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nTiia Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen, Enni-Maria Hietavala, Matti Hakam\u00e4ki, Sarianna Sipil\u00e4, Eija Laakkonen & Katja Kokko. 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, 2021, 18(15), 7732. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph18157732<\/a>\r\n\r\nTiia Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen, Sarianna Sipil\u00e4, Milla Saajanaho ja Katja Kokko. The role of personality traits in leisure time physical activity during COVID-19 pandemic. Personality and Individual Differences 2021, 182, 11080. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.paid.2021.111080<\/a>\r\n
Lis\u00e4tietoja: <\/strong><\/h3>\r\nTiia Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen\r\nTutkijatohtori\r\ntiia.m.kekalainen@jyu.fi<\/a>, 040 652 2280\r\nGerontologian tutkimuskeskus\r\nLiikuntatieteellinen tiedekunta\r\nJyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopisto\r\n\r\nKuva: Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopisto","_fi_post_name":"naisten-masennusoireet-ja-epasaannollinen-syominen-lisaantyivat-koronapandemian-aikana","_fi_post_excerpt":"","_fi_post_title":"Naisten masennusoireet ja ep\u00e4s\u00e4\u00e4nn\u00f6llinen sy\u00f6minen lis\u00e4\u00e4ntyiv\u00e4t koronapandemian aikana","_en_post_content":"High extraversion was linked to a decrease in alcohol consumption\r\n\r\nA recent study from the University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4 shows that among middle-aged women depressive symptoms increased and eating became more irregular but alcohol consumption remained unchanged during the emergency conditions in spring 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic affected people in different ways, with some experiencing their lifestyles becoming healthier and some unhealthier. Personality was found to play a role in these changes.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyday life for a year and a half. Two recent studies examined changes in the health behaviors and depressive symptoms of middle-aged Finns as well as the role of personality in these changes.\r\n\r\nIn the first study, middle-aged women's health behaviors and depressive symptoms were examined before the pandemic as well as at the onset and at the end of the COVID-19 emergency conditions in Finland (March\u2013June 2020). Middle-aged women reported more depressive symptoms and more irregular eating habits at the end of the emergency conditions than before the pandemic. On the other hand, no changes in alcohol use and leisure time physical activity were observed.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe found these adverse changes to accumulate partly for the same people,\u201d postdoctoral researcher Tiia Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen<\/strong> from the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4, says. \u201cFor example, in women who had unhealthier changes in eating habits, depressive symptoms and alcohol use also increased.\u201d\r\nWomen were more likely to change their physical activity than men were<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nWhen asked for self-perceived changes in physical activity during the pandemic, slightly less than half of the women said they had decreased their physical activity, about a third reported no changes and a fifth increased their physical activity.\r\n\r\nIn another study, changes in physical activity were investigated among both women and men. The results were similar, though nearly half reported that their physical activity remained unchanged. Women were more likely than men to report both increasing and decreasing physical activity, while men more often reported that their physical activity remained unchanged.\r\n
Personality plays a role in adaption to a pandemic situation<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nBoth studies also looked at the role of personality traits in adaption to the pandemic situation. More extroverted women reported decreased alcohol use and healthier changes in their eating habits than did less extroverted women. Women with high scores in neuroticism reported both healthier and unhealthier changes in their eating habits.\r\n\r\n\u201cAvoiding social contacts was strongly recommended during the emergency conditions and, for example, restaurants were partially closed,\u201d Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen says. \u201cThe decrease in meeting friends and eating out may explain the change to healthier eating habits and lower alcohol use among extroverted women.\r\n\r\n\u201cNeuroticism is characterized by negative effects such as anxiety and a susceptibility to stress. During the pandemic, such characteristics may have caused unhealthy habits such as emotional eating, or, conversely, careful following of a diet.\u201d\r\n\r\nIn the second dataset, extroversion and, in particular, a facet of it called activity was linked to changes in physical activity: activity was linked to both an increase and a decrease in physical activity.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe activity facet reflects a tendency to live a busy life with a rapid tempo,\u201d says Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen. \u201cRestrictions during the pandemic and cancelled hobbies and events may have offered opportunities to spend more time on physical activity. For others, cancelled physical activities and less frequent going from one place to another may have caused a decrease in physical activity.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe first study utilized data from 358 women. Women aged 51 to 59 were part of the Estrogen, Micro-RNAs and the Risk of Metabolic Dysfunction (EsmiRs) <\/a>follow-up study. Self-reported data on health behaviors, depressive symptoms and personality traits were available from the pre-pandemic time. Participants reported health behaviors and changes in them and depressive symptoms at the onset (March 2020) and at the end (June 2020) of emergency conditions in Finland.\r\n\r\nThe second dataset consisted of 168 women and men around the age of 61 who participated in the latest data collection of the Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4 Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development (JYLS)<\/a> between April 2020 and April 2021. Participants reported physical activity and changes in it during the pandemic as part of a larger interview and personality was assessed by a self-reported questionnaire.\r\n\r\nThe publications have been created as part of the PATHWAY project<\/a> funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland. The EsmiRs and JYLS (Trails project) studies are funded by the Academy of Finland.\r\n
Original articles:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nTiia Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen, Enni-Maria Hietavala, Matti Hakam\u00e4ki, Sarianna Sipil\u00e4, Eija Laakkonen & Katja Kokko. 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, 2021, 18(15), 7732. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph18157732<\/a>\r\n\r\nTiia Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen, Sarianna Sipil\u00e4, Milla Saajanaho ja Katja Kokko. The role of personality traits in leisure time physical activity during COVID-19 pandemic. Personality and Individual Differences 2021, 182, 11080. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.paid.2021.111080<\/a>\r\n
Further information: <\/strong><\/h3>\r\nTiia Kek\u00e4l\u00e4inen, PhD\r\ntiia.m.kekalainen@jyu.fi<\/a>, +358 40 652 2280\r\nGerontology Research Center\r\nFaculty of Sport and Health Sciences\r\n\r\nPicture: University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4","_en_post_name":"depressive-symptoms-and-irregular-eating-increased-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-among-middle-aged-women","_en_post_excerpt":"","_en_post_title":"Depressive symptoms and irregular eating increased during the COVID-19 pandemic among middle-aged women","edit_language":"en","footnotes":""},"categories":[130],"tags":[443,439,375,442,359,188,155,161,313,440,441,437,436,444,438],"class_list":["post-8203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tiedeuutiset","tag-alcohol","tag-alkoholi","tag-covid-19","tag-eating","tag-elintavat","tag-exercise","tag-fyysinen-aktiivisuus","tag-keski-ika","tag-koronapandemia","tag-lifestyle","tag-mental-health","tag-mielenterveys","tag-naiset","tag-personality","tag-syominen","entry","no-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8203"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8203\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8209,"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8203\/revisions\/8209"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}