Black-owned restaurants impacted disproportionately by COVID-19

Using multiple sources of geospatial big data, researchers confirmed that Black-owned restaurants saw a greater disparity in lost patronage than other restaurants.

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

 

IMAGE: GEOSCIENCES PROFESSOR XIAO HUANG view more 

CREDIT: UNIVERSITY RELATIONS

It’s well established that people of color suffered higher mortality rates and worse health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic than white people. But the economic consequences of COVID-19 are still being determined.

Xiao Huang, a U of A assistant professor with the Department of Geosciences and the Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies, is attempting to provide some clarity. He was the lead author on a recent study that found Black-owned restaurants were hit harder by the pandemic than restaurants whose ownership was otherwise unknown.

The study utilized geospatial big data, which can include things like Yelp reviews or geo-tagged tweets, to do a longitudinal quantitative analysis of Black-owned businesses through the pandemic year of 2020. The researchers focused on 20 U.S. cities to observe differences among various geographic locations and to ensure spatial representativeness.

Yelp reviews were especially helpful because they might include the “Black-owned” label with associated businesses, or the identifier was mentioned in reviews. Otherwise, there was no systematic way to verify Black-owned businesses. Yelp listings were then cross-referenced with visitation records collected by SafeGraph, a company that collects visitation patterns on points of interest through an estimated 45 million mobile devices.

Overall, the researchers found there were statistically significant differential impacts between Black-owned and “ownership-unreported” restaurants throughout the 20 cities, primarily measured by relative declines in visits. New Orleans and Detroit showed the greatest disparities, while New York City showed the least.

Due to the number of cities involved and the overall time period examined, which saw fluctuations in the number of visitors at various stages of the pandemic, broader explanations are harder to draw. Early in the pandemic, Black-owned businesses actually outpaced ownership-unreported businesses, peaking in June and July, but eventually declines led to larger disparities between them and ownership-unknown businesses.

While Huang and his co-authors concede there were limitations to the data they were able to collect — for instance, visits of less than four minutes were not included in the SafeGraph dataset, which excluded take-out and delivery services — they were still able to make an apples-to-apples comparison between visits to Black-owned and ownership-unreported businesses. As such, they feel the data help make the case for a more comprehensive study to identify why Black-owned businesses suffered disproportionately. They also argue for better place-based responses to support Black-owned businesses that may be struggling disproportionately, such as implementing a rainy-day fund.

“The voices of the minority, the vulnerable and others who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic need to be heard,” Huang commented. “As a scholar, I will continue collecting evidence that helps reveal the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on them.”

Bo Zhao, associate professor of geography at the University of Washington and corresponding author on the paper, added, “Big tech plays an increasingly influential role in almost every aspect of our everyday life, especially in today’s economic recovery, and the Black-owned labeling campaign appears to be well-intended.”

“But what have been the consequences?” Zhao asked. “As allyship to minorities has become a core value of our time, how can big tech become a better and more inclusive ally? This research provides a timely case study.”

The article, titled “Black businesses matter: A longitudinal study of black-owned restaurants in the COVID-19 pandemic using geospatial big data,” was published in the Annals of the American Association of Geographers. Huang and Zhao’s co-writers included Xiaoqi Bao, Zhenlong Li and Shaozeng Zhang.

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JOURNAL

Annals of the Association of American Geographers

DOI

10.1080/24694452.2022.2095971 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Data/statistical analysis

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Black Businesses Matter: A Longitudinal Study of Black-Owned Restaurants in the COVID-19 Pandemic Using Geospatial Big Data

 

PLOS Global Public Health editors call for embedding Indigenous self-determination, with respect to researchers, knowledge, ethics, and processes, into all stages of research, to decolonize global health

Peer-Reviewed Publication

PLOS

 

IMAGE: A MAP OF THE WORLD. view more 

CREDIT: GERD ALTMANN, PIXABAY, CC0 (HTTPS://CREATIVECOMMONS.ORG/PUBLICDOMAIN/ZERO/1.0/)

PLOS Global Public Health editors call for embedding Indigenous self-determination, with respect to researchers, knowledge, ethics, and processes, into all stages of research, to decolonize global health

###

Article URL: https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0000999

Article Title: Reconciliation and Indigenous self-determination in health research: A call to action

Contact: Pamela Roach, pamela.roach@ucalgary.ca, Ph.: +1 403 805 2254

Author Countries: Canada, Australia

Funding: The authors received no specific funding for this work.

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JOURNAL

PLOS Global Public Health

DOI

10.1371/journal.pgph.0000999 

ARTICLE TITLE

Reconciliation and Indigenous self-determination in health research: A call to action

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

1-Sep-2022

FRANKENGENE

Belgian stem cell biologists create new human cell type for research

Their model cells helps to study early embryonic development

Peer-Reviewed Publication

KU LEUVEN

 

IMAGE: FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: BRADLEY BALATON, THI XUAN AI PHAM, AMITESH PANDA, AND VINCENT PASQUE. view more 

CREDIT: KU LEUVEN

Professor Vincent Pasque and his team at KU Leuven have managed to generate a new type of human cell in the lab using stem cells. The new cells closely resemble their natural counterparts in early human embryos. As a result, researchers can now better study what happens just after an embryo implants in the womb. The findings were published in Cell Stem Cell. 

When all goes well, a human embryo implants in the womb about seven days after fertilisation. At that point, the embryo becomes inaccessible for research due to technical and ethical limitations. That is why scientists have already developed stem cell models for various types of embryonic and extraembryonic cells to study human development in a dish.

Vincent Pasque's team at KU Leuven has developed the first model for a specific type of human embryo cells, extraembryonic mesoderm cells. Professor Pasque: "These cells generate the first blood in an embryo, help to attach the embryo to the future placenta, and play a role in forming the primitive umbilical cord. In humans, this type of cell appears at an earlier developmental stage than in mouse embryos, and there might be other important differences between species. That makes our model especially important: research in mice may not give us answers that also apply to humans.” 

The researchers made their model cells from human stem cells that can still develop into all cell types of an embryo. The new cells closely resemble their natural counterparts in human embryos and are therefore a good model for that specific cell type. 

"You don't make a new human cell type every day," Pasque continues. "We are very excited because now we can study processes that normally remain inaccessible during development. In fact, the model has already enabled us to find out where extraembryonic mesoderm cells come from. In the longer term, our model will hopefully also shed more light on medical challenges such as fertility problems, miscarriages, and developmental disorders."

CAPTION

Fluorescent microscopy image of the new cells (extraembryonic mesoderm cells) and placenta progenitor stem cells. The new cells are marked in red, and cells corresponding to placental stem cells are shown in green. The DNA (nucleus) of each cell is shown in blue.

CREDIT

Amitesh Panda (KU Leuven)

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JOURNAL

Cell Stem Cell

DOI

10.1016/j.stem.2022.08.001 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

ARTICLE TITLE

Modeling human extraembryonic mesoderm cells using naive pluripotent stem cells

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

1-Sep-2022

Microbial communities stay healthy by swapping knowledge

High levels of horizontal gene transfer could help researchers engineer useful microbiomes independent of unstable population dynamics

Peer-Reviewed Publication

DUKE UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: LINCHONG YOU, PROFESSOR OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING AT DUKE UNIVERSITY view more 

CREDIT: DUKE UNIVERSITY

DURHAM, N.C. – Biomedical engineers at Duke University have demonstrated a microbial community phenomenon that essentially equates to teaching neighbors how to complete necessary tasks by ripping out and sharing parts of the brain.

The process allows microbiomes to keep themselves and their environments healthy and could help scientists create robust, bespoke microbial systems for applications ranging from cleaning toxins from the environment to producing biofuel and other consumer products.

The research appears online September 1 in the journal Nature Chemical Biology.

Large, complex microbial communities live everywhere in the world, from rivers and mountains to humans and houses. But whether comparing microbiomes on snowcapped peaks in Asia or within the stomachs of identical human twins, the composition of species within these communities can vary widely.

No matter how different these microbiomes may appear to be on the surface, if they live in similar environments, they’re likely going to fill the same functions. One way of evaluating what processes they’re carrying out is focusing on the genes that encode the functions rather than the species themselves.

“If you count the number of the copies of genes that encode some function, their numbers can remain stable even if the species composition of the community changes dramatically,” said Lingchong You, professor of biomedical engineering at Duke. “One important route to this level of stability is through horizontal gene transfer.”

Horizontal gene transfer is the process by which bacteria constantly share genetic recipes for new abilities by swapping packages of genetic material called plasmids. At a conceptual level, it’s not entirely dissimilar to creating a copy of a collection of neurons that knows how to make lasagna, ripping it out of your head and giving it to a friend to use.

In the new paper, You and his colleagues show that this gene transfer plays an essential role in keeping microbiomes healthy and ensuring critical tasks are completed. Starting with two different species of bacteria, the researchers controlled the levels of horizontal gene transfer and showed that higher rates led to more stable concentrations of these genes.

The team then constructed a community of up to 72 bacteria swapping up to 13 different genes simultaneously and measured the genes’ stability. As with the simpler model, the genes that were traded more frequently maintained a steadier level within the microbiome as a whole.

“These results have been speculated about before, but never quantified within living communities,” You said. “The other route to this level of redundancy is to have multiple species that can perform the same function. But a high level of horizontal gene transfer is a much more robust method to achieve the same results.”

Put another way, a construction crew could be extremely resilient to electricians quitting if the plumbers on site also knew how to wire a building. But the same crew would be even more resilient if the remaining electricians could simply transfer their expertise to anyone on the job when needed, no matter their profession.

Moving forward, You hopes to study natural microbial communities to prove definitively that this phenomenon is important to a microbiome’s health outside of a laboratory. He also plans to implement this dynamic division of labor through horizontal gene transfer in engineered microbial systems.

“There are cases where complex metabolic pathways are difficult to engineer in a single bacterial species where it’s easier to have different populations carrying out different steps of the process,” You said. “This study suggests we can implement that strategy through gene transfer so that we don’t have to worry about the specific composition of species. We can just let the community find the best balance for itself while still knowing it will continue to get the job done.”

This research is supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01AI125604, R01EB031869) and the National Science Foundation (MCB-347 1937259).

CITATION: “Horizontal Gene Transfer Enables Programmable Gene Stability in Synthetic Microbiota,” Teng Wang, Andrea Weiss, Ammara Aqeel, Feilun Wu, Allison J. Lopatkin, Lawrence A. David, Lingchong You. Nature Chemical Biology, Sept. 1, 2022. DOI: 10.1038/s41589-022-01114-3

Nature Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41589-022-01114-3

# # #

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JOURNAL

Nature Chemical Biology

DOI

10.1038/s41589-022-01114-3 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Horizontal Gene Transfer Enables Programmable Gene Stability in Synthetic Microbiota

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

1-Sep-2022

Disclaimer: AA

FRACKING

New study in Earth Science Frontiers suggests lacustrine shale reserves can bolster China’s energy independence

Their new study elaborates on the enrichment conditions and distribution characteristics of lacustrine shale oil in China

Peer-Reviewed Publication

CACTUS COMMUNICATIONS

 

VIDEO: THEIR NEW STUDY ELABORATES ON THE ENRICHMENT CONDITIONS AND DISTRIBUTION CHARACTERISTICS OF LACUSTRINE SHALE OIL IN CHINA view more 

CREDIT: EARTH SCIENCE FRONTIERS

Shale oil exploration has rapidly expanded since the beginning of the 21st century, particularly in North America. Since 2010, the production of marine shale oil has increased at an average rate of more than 25% annually, making the US the global leader in production with total recoverable resources pegged at approximately 20.7 billion tons. Developing shale oil resources has significant potential to shape energy security and geopolitics. In addition to marine shale oil, countries have also begun utilizing lacustrine basins for oil production.

Lacustrine shale oil reserves are deemed optimal when their organic content is high, the reservoirs feature a suitably high pressure to facilitate formation, and the Ro value, which indicates the thermal maturity of shale, is greater than 1.0%. In China, the lacustrine medium-to-high maturity shale oil is characterized by mature liquid hydrocarbons and a high proportion of movable oil. While these characteristics make it a valuable resource, questions surrounding production costs and recoverable quantities remain. Furthermore, without low development costs it remains to be seen if these reserves can be utilized economically.

Now, a group of petroleum scientists led by Dr. Wenzhi Zhao at the China National Petroleum Corporation, have presented their evaluation of the enrichment conditions and occurrence characteristics of lacustrine shale oil reservoirs in China. “We have proposed a set of evaluation parameters for shale oil enrichment zones and evaluated the occurrence of optimal areas. This data will serve as a good reference to help promote the development of these oil reserves economically,” says Dr. Zhao while explaining the motivation behind the research. This study was recently published in Earth Science Frontiers. Also visit the website for the press release based on this study: http://www.earthsciencefrontiers.net.cn/EN/news/news32.shtml.

The team utilized data collected from lacustrine medium-to-high maturity shale reserves currently being developed in China for their analyses, and specifically determined the optimal conditions for shale oil accumulation and the characteristics of these deposits. Their analysis revealed that shale with a high organic content and appropriate thermal maturity favored oil retention. “The optimal organic content of this shale ranges from three to four percent, and kerogen I and II seems to be the dominant type of organic matter. Interestingly, the Ro values of this shale were greater than 0.9%. Finally, these reservoirs must exhibit a certain degree of brittleness and have porosities between three to six percent,” says Dr. Zhao when asked to elaborate on the key findings. In addition to these parameters, shale oil with good mobility was found when large amounts of high-quality hydrocarbons were present, and the enrichment interval of this oil was highly dependent on the reservoir having a tightly sealed roof and floor.

“What we see is that major enrichment of oil occurs at semi-deep to deep depositional zones. Moreover, the distribution of shale oil enrichment intervals is governed by the type of lithologies as oil and gas is retained in the source rock. Shale assemblages are the best lithologic sections while Mudstone is not,” observes Dr. Zhao, surmising the characteristics of these shale oil deposits.

The team pegs the total shale oil reserves in China with medium-to-high maturity to be close to 16.3 billion tons of which nearly 8.4 billion tons could be developed commercially. These reserves are spread across the Ordos, Songliao, Bohai Bay, and Junggar Basins and represent a significant energy resource for China’s future. “We can now offer better guidance to reduce the number of ineffective wells and have set the stage to greatly improve the number of economic discoveries in China,” concludes Dr. Zhao optimistically and perhaps a sense of justified pride.

 

CAPTION

Their new study elaborates on the enrichment conditions and distribution characteristics of lacustrine shale oil in China

CREDIT

Earth Science Frontiers

CAPTION

Analyses from the Songliao Basin revealed a significant increase in free hydrocarbons at Ro > 0.9% due to the thermal maturity threshold of the sweet-spot for lacustrine shale oil.

CREDIT

Wenzhi Zhao from RIPED

Reference

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13745/j.esf.sf.2022.8.31-en

Authors: Wenzhi Zhao1,3, Rukai Zhu1,2, Wei Liu1,3, Congsheng Bian1,3, Kun Wang1

Affiliations  

1. Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, CNPC, Beijing 100083
2. Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoirs, CNPC
3. ZWZ Academician Research Studio, Beijing 100083

 

About Earth Science Frontiers

Earth Science Frontiers is a bimonthly peer reviewed scholarly journal co-sponsored by the China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Peking University. It was first published in 1994, and academician Wang Chengshan is the current Editor-in-Chief. Each issue of the journal is centered on a specific geoscience topic and managed by experts in that field as Guest Editors. Each issue also contains a number of articles on self-select subjects. Articles published on Earth Science Frontiers cover all disciplines of earth sciences with emphasis on frontier and innovative basic research. At the same time, the journal also publishes research findings that may be considered contentious. Over the years, Earth Science Frontiers has won several publisher awards, including “The Internationally Most Influential Journal in Chinese Language” and “The Top 100 Outstanding Chinese Scholarly Journals.” In 2019, Earth Science Frontiers was selected among top-tier journals to join a national action plan for achieving excellence in science and technology research publishing in China.

E-mail: frontier@cugb.edu.cn
Website: http://www.earthsciencefrontiers.net.cn

 

About Dr. Wenzhi Zhao

Dr. Wenzhi Zhao is the President of PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development (RIPED), the Deputy General Manager of PetroChina Exploration & Production Company, and Research Professor at the Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Reservoir. He earned his PhD in Mineral Resource Prospecting and Exploration from RIPED in 2003 and has published 11 monographs and over 70 academic papers. He is the recipient of several high-profile scientific awards including the Li Siguang Geological Science Medal (2003) and the First Prize of National Scientific and Technological Progress Award (2007).

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JOURNAL

Earth Science Frontiers

DOI

10.13745/j.esf.sf.2022.8.31-en 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Observational study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Enrichment conditions and distribution characteristics of lacustrine medium-to-high maturity shale oil in China

COI STATEMENT

None

Improving foam stability in disinfectants with high ethanol concentrations

A new study proposes a method of foam stabilization that could be used to make highly efficient hand sanitizers

Peer-Reviewed Publication

TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE

 

IMAGE: IN A NEW STUDY, SCIENTISTS FROM JAPAN COMBINED AN ANIONIC SURFACTANT, LONG-CHAIN ALCOHOLS, AND AN INORGANIC ELECTROLYTE TO ENHANCE THE FOAM STABILITY IN DISINFECTANTS WITH HIGH CONCENTRATION OF ETHANOL. THEIR STRATEGY CAN HELP FORMULATE HAND SANITIZERS WITH OPTIMIZED FOAM STABILITY. view more 

CREDIT: KENICHI SAKAI FROM TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the importance wearing masks and disinfection of items has become paramount. As a result, there is now a greater need for effective, potent, and simple-to-apply disinfectants. Foam-type disinfectants are a leading candidate in this regard since they do not drip, keep the disinfected area visible, and are less likely to reach the user’s eyes.

However, foam-type disinfectants are not without issues. While the foam is usually stabilized with the adsorption of a surfactant at the air/liquid interface, adding high concentration of ethanol, an antiseptic, to foams in aqueous solutions causes defoaming resulting from destabilization of the foam.

To improve the stability of foam disinfectants at high ethanol concentrations, a group of researchers from Tokyo University of Science (TUS), Japan, in collaboration with the Life Science Products Division, NOF Corporation, have now come up with a new proposal. This study, led by Associate Professor Kenichi Sakai of TUS, was made available online on August 04, 2022 and published in Chemistry Letters.

In their study, the team added an anionic (negatively charged) surfactant, long-chain alcohols, and an inorganic electrolyte to an aqueous solution containing 60% ethanol by volume. They used sodium methyl stearoyl taurate (SMT) as the surfactant, CnOH (where n = 12, 14, 16) as the alcohols, and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) as the electrolyte.

The inorganic electrolyte provided two main advantages: firstly, it enabled effective screening of the electrostatic repulsion between the SMT headgroup adsorbed at the air-liquid interface. Secondly, it promoted interactions between Mg2+ ions and the headgroups. These, in turn, facilitated the additional adsorption of SMT and CnOH, increasing the surface viscosity and foam stability.

“We have been working on this research project before the novel coronavirus infection became a social problem. We believe that the social impact of this research will only increase as the social need for disinfectants and health safety go up,” says Dr. Sakai, explaining his motivation behind the study.

The team observed that, in the absence of the MgSO4, foaming occurred upon shaking for CnOH (n = 12, 14, 16) with the foam stability increasing with increasing n. Additionally, the combination of SMT and CnOH resulted in a decrease in surface tension and an increase in surface viscosity, which increased foam stability.

When MgSO4 was added, foaming happened upon vigorous shaking. The foam stability increased with increase in the mole ratio of MgSO4, which decreased the surface tension while increasing the surface viscosity.

Finally, the team used a non-pressurized commercial pump to test the foam formation of the solution. They found that the SMT and C14OH mixture produced adequate foaming both with and without MgSO4. Further, defoaming occurred after 30 seconds for both cases, an appropriate time scale for the dissipation of the foam after application.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously affected human lives and social activities on a global scale. As a result, the importance of proper sanitation has been recognized worldwide. We believe that the results of our research will contribute to the sustainable development goal (SDG3) of ensuring good health and well-being among people of all ages,” says Dr. Sakai.

Indeed, the team’s samples could help formulate foam-type hand sanitizers you may be using soon!

 

***

 

Reference                     
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1246/cl.220306

About The Tokyo University of Science
Tokyo University of Science (TUS) is a well-known and respected university, and the largest science-specialized private research university in Japan, with four campuses in central Tokyo and its suburbs and in Hokkaido. Established in 1881, the university has continually contributed to Japan's development in science through inculcating the love for science in researchers, technicians, and educators.

With a mission of “Creating science and technology for the harmonious development of nature, human beings, and society", TUS has undertaken a wide range of research from basic to applied science. TUS has embraced a multidisciplinary approach to research and undertaken intensive study in some of today's most vital fields. TUS is a meritocracy where the best in science is recognized and nurtured. It is the only private university in Japan that has produced a Nobel Prize winner and the only private university in Asia to produce Nobel Prize winners within the natural sciences field.
Website: https://www.tus.ac.jp/en/mediarelations/

About Associate Professor Kenichi Sakai from Tokyo University of Science
Dr. Kenichi Sakai is an Associate Professor at the Tokyo University of Science, Japan, where he is a member of the Faculty of Science and Technology in the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry. His research interests lie in the field of physical chemistry, particularly in colloid and interface chemistry. He has over 160 publications to his name and has received several awards, including the Young Scientist Award from the Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry, The Chemical Society of Japan in 2015, and the Coating Societies International Medallion in 2007.

Funding information
This study was supported by the JST A-STEP (Adaptable and Seamless Technology transfer Program through target-driven R&D) Grant Number JPMJTM20CF. SMT was kindly provided by Nikko Chemicals Co., Ltd.

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JOURNAL

Chemistry Letters

DOI

10.1246/cl.220306 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Enhancing the Foam Stability of Aqueous Solution with High Ethanol Concentration via Co-Addition of Surfactant, Long-Chain Alcohol, and Inorganic Electrolyte

People who were most physically active fared worse during the pandemic

Timing was everything when it came to dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and exercising

Peer-Reviewed Publication

NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

When the world shut down in March 2020, many of us scaled back on exercise and other physical activities. Those resulting COVID kilos yielded interest, and many of us still haven’t rid ourselves of them.

But it could have been worse.

It could be that forcing too much physical activity too early in the pandemic was not healthy, either, according to some recent research results.

Physically active people struggled too

Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) looked at how the mental health of physically active adults progressed during the first phase of the pandemic. Physically active people generally have better mental health than inactive people.

The researchers collected the first data in June 2020, just a few months into the shutdown, and then again six months later. The participants were members of Kondis, a Norwegian organization for fitness sports.

Women’s anxiety symptoms remained stable, but men’s anxiety symptoms increased. Both sexes had several symptoms of depression.

The research findings thus showed that the pandemic was associated with worse mental health for the physically active population as well. People who reduced the amount of exercise they did had the most depression symptoms.

The most active individuals struggled the most mentally

The researchers found something unexpected as well.

Those who increased their amount of exercise early after the shutdown in March also experienced the greatest increase in anxiety and depression symptoms half a year after the pandemic erupted.

“The mental health of physically active people who increased their activity level at just over six months into the pandemic deteriorated more than for people who didn’t start exercising more,” says Audun Havnen, an associate professor at NTNU’s Department of Psychology.

So the individuals who trained more early on in the pandemic fared the worst mentally of the all physically active people.

“In other words, pushing ourselves to do a lot of exercise doesn’t always contribute positively to our mental health,” says Linda Ernstsen, associate professor at NTNU’s Department of Public Health and Nursing.

Certain personality traits?

Despite the study results, the researchers are somewhat cautious about issuing solid conclusions. Indeed, the context could be reversed.

“It could be that people who train above the average amount have some personality traits that make them more vulnerable in terms of mental health,” says Havnen.

A large Swedish study of almost 400,000 participants in the Vasaloppet, the world’s largest cross-country ski race, seems to indicate just that.

The NTNU study results also show that people who reported a reduced amount of exercise at the beginning of the pandemic had the relatively highest level of anxiety and depression symptoms.

At the same time, the entire study sample had a significantly lower incidence of mental illness as compared with the population at large.

Physical activity has big benefits

It is important to note that all the 855 participants in the study were physically active.

The study did not make any comparisons with people who engage in little to no physical activity. Inactive individuals usually fare less well.

“Physically active people generally struggle less with depression and anxiety,” Ernstsen says.

Exercise and other physical activity undoubtedly have many benefits. They support better moods and sleep, and keeping up with all kinds of chores in everyday life. Exercise reduces the risk of many different diseases – and if you still get sick, physical activity can make it easier to recover.

But it appears that there could be a limit, and that pushing our physical envelope doesn’t always feel so good either.

Reference: Havnen Audun, Ernstsen Linda. Does Change in Physical Activity During the Initial Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic Predict Psychological Symptoms in Physically Active Adults? A Six-Month Longitudinal Study. International Journal of Public Health. Volume 67, 2022. ISSN 1661-8564. DOI 10.3389/ijph.2022.1604528

 

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JOURNAL

International Journal of Public Health

DOI

10.3389/ijph.2022.1604528 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Survey

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Does Change in Physical Activity During the Initial Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic Predict Psychological Symptoms in Physically Active Adults? A Six-Month Longitudinal Study.