Physical Activity Amid a Pandemic: How Socioeconomic and Demographic Factors Shaped Behaviors During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant shifts in societal norms and individual behaviors, including changes in physical activity levels. This study examines the relationship between socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors and changes in physical activity levels during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels among adult Arkansans. Survey data were collected from 1,205 adult Arkansans in July and August 2020, capturing socioeconomic and sociodemographic characteristics and information on physical activity changes since the onset of the pandemic. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the relative risk of reporting increased or decreased physical activity compared to unchanged levels. Age (RRR _{more physical activity} =0.98, RRR _{less physical activity} =0.98), marital status (RRR _{less physical activity} =0.66), COVID-19-related income loss (RRR _{less physical activity} =0.61), and receipt of a stimulus check (RRR _{less physical activity} =0.64) were significantly associated with changes in physical activity levels during the pandemic. Older individuals, married individuals, those without COVID-19-related income loss, and recipients of stimulus checks were less likely to report decreased physical activity levels. No significant association was found between race/ethnicity and physical activity changes. This study highlights the influence of socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors on physical activity behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings underscore the importance of considering socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors in public health interventions to promote physical activity and mitigate health disparities beyond the pandemic.