The importance of sleep and physical activity on well-being during COVID-19 lockdown: reunion island as a case study

Lockdown has been one of the major worldwide strategies to control the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Its consequences on the well-being of individuals needs to be better understood. The objective of this work was to evaluate the impact of lockdown on the well-being of a general population and the factors associated with this potential impairment of well-being in a population that has been only lightly affected by COVID-19 such as in Reunion island, an overseas French department.

An online survey was proposed to the population of Reunion Island between the 35th and 54th days of lockdown relative to pre- and per-lockdown periods. Well-being was measured by the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index, with some questions about sleep habits (Pittsburgh questionnaire), weekly physical activity (IPAQ), health, and lifestyle.

Four hundred volunteers answered the survey. They reported a 15.7% decrease in well-being (p < 0.001), accompanied by increased anxiety (p < 0.001), decreased weekly physical activity (p < 0.001), delayed and poorer quality sleep (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistical analysis showed that impairment in well-being during lockdown was independently associated with an increase in anxiety (odds ratio (OR): 4.77 (3.26-6.98), p < 0.001), decrease in weekly physical activity (OR: 0.58 (0.43-0.79), p < 0.001), and poor-quality sleep (OR: 0.29 (0.19-0.43), p < 0.001).

This study suggested an impairment in well-being during lockdown, associated with anxiety, lack of physical activity and sleep disruptions. Public policies must consider these factors as levers for improving the well-being of the population in order to effectively combat the spread of COVID-19.