Mental health and physical activity during the outbreak of COVID-19: Analysis of rapid response research using a systematic review

Abstract

The rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic changed people’s lives abruptly, causing decreased physical activity (PA). This situation led to an array of studies exploring the impact of restrictions on mental health (MH) and the potential benefits of PA. We aimed to evaluate how the rapid research response generated adequate evidence for guiding the response to COVID-19 restrictions, in order to inform evidence-generating responses in future health emergencies. For this, a systematic review was conducted, encompassing 17 articles published during the first six months of the pandemic (March to August 2020), with a predominant focus on MH and its association with PA. A positive association between PA and MH, particularly regarding depression, stress, and well-being, was observed in the literature. However, the variation in outcomes and the influence of contextual factors underscored the need for better methodological consensus in emergency research. A noticeable gap in published research from certain regions highlighted concerns about equitable representation. This disparity could introduce bias, due to a substantial proportion of available research originated from industrialized and developed nations. Importantly, the published research during the first six months predominantly emphasized morbidity in the assessment of MH, though evidence advocates for a more holistic approach. As the world continues to face unforeseen crises, these findings suggest that emergency research must account for context diversity and promote a more comprehensive understanding of MH beyond psychopathological symptoms. This approach is essential for maximizing the impact of research resources in emergency response and ensuring equitable scientific representation.