Recreational activities and psychological distress during the COVID-19 crisis: a cohort study from Norway
Abstract Background This study aims to assess the relationship between engaging in recreational activities before the pandemic and levels of psychological distress during the pandemic. Methods Data from a cohort study (n = 16,212) collected at three time points (April 2020, January 2021, and May 202...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22942-7 |
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| author | Rebecca Dyer Ånensen Viggo Krüger William Hazell Gro Mjeldheim Sandal Lars Thore Fadnes |
| author_facet | Rebecca Dyer Ånensen Viggo Krüger William Hazell Gro Mjeldheim Sandal Lars Thore Fadnes |
| author_sort | Rebecca Dyer Ånensen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background This study aims to assess the relationship between engaging in recreational activities before the pandemic and levels of psychological distress during the pandemic. Methods Data from a cohort study (n = 16,212) collected at three time points (April 2020, January 2021, and May 2022) in Bergen, Norway, were analysed via a linear mixed model. Associations between psychological distress and five dimensions of recreational activities were assessed, both at baseline and over time. Results Regular physical activity before the pandemic was linked to lower psychological distress at baseline, whereas for cultural audience participation, this relationship was inverted. Over time, regular cultural audience participation before the pandemic was associated with a slight reduction in psychological distress. No clear baseline associations or significant changes over time were found for cultural practitioner, social networking, or volunteering/religious activities. Conclusions These findings suggest that there are links between recreational activities and psychological distress during a crisis, with cultural audience participation possibly reducing distress over time. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-770f121c5c2d4932807e8b155442d8b9 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-770f121c5c2d4932807e8b155442d8b92025-08-20T03:22:08ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-05-012511910.1186/s12889-025-22942-7Recreational activities and psychological distress during the COVID-19 crisis: a cohort study from NorwayRebecca Dyer Ånensen0Viggo Krüger1William Hazell2Gro Mjeldheim Sandal3Lars Thore Fadnes4Section for Analyses, Department of Business Development, Culture and Sports in the City of BergenDepartment of Music, the Grieg Academy, University of BergenSection for Analyses, Department of Business Development, Culture and Sports in the City of BergenDepartment of Psychosocial Science, University of BergenDepartment of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of BergenAbstract Background This study aims to assess the relationship between engaging in recreational activities before the pandemic and levels of psychological distress during the pandemic. Methods Data from a cohort study (n = 16,212) collected at three time points (April 2020, January 2021, and May 2022) in Bergen, Norway, were analysed via a linear mixed model. Associations between psychological distress and five dimensions of recreational activities were assessed, both at baseline and over time. Results Regular physical activity before the pandemic was linked to lower psychological distress at baseline, whereas for cultural audience participation, this relationship was inverted. Over time, regular cultural audience participation before the pandemic was associated with a slight reduction in psychological distress. No clear baseline associations or significant changes over time were found for cultural practitioner, social networking, or volunteering/religious activities. Conclusions These findings suggest that there are links between recreational activities and psychological distress during a crisis, with cultural audience participation possibly reducing distress over time.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22942-7Cohort studyRecreational activitiesCultural audiencePhysical activityPsychological distressCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | Rebecca Dyer Ånensen Viggo Krüger William Hazell Gro Mjeldheim Sandal Lars Thore Fadnes Recreational activities and psychological distress during the COVID-19 crisis: a cohort study from Norway BMC Public Health Cohort study Recreational activities Cultural audience Physical activity Psychological distress COVID-19 |
| title | Recreational activities and psychological distress during the COVID-19 crisis: a cohort study from Norway |
| title_full | Recreational activities and psychological distress during the COVID-19 crisis: a cohort study from Norway |
| title_fullStr | Recreational activities and psychological distress during the COVID-19 crisis: a cohort study from Norway |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recreational activities and psychological distress during the COVID-19 crisis: a cohort study from Norway |
| title_short | Recreational activities and psychological distress during the COVID-19 crisis: a cohort study from Norway |
| title_sort | recreational activities and psychological distress during the covid 19 crisis a cohort study from norway |
| topic | Cohort study Recreational activities Cultural audience Physical activity Psychological distress COVID-19 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22942-7 |
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