Health behaviour and wellbeing trends among Australian adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2017–2022): An interrupted time-series analysis

Sarah Marshall; Bronwyn McGill; Christian Young; Philip Clare; Sarah Neill; Margaret Thomas; Adrian Bauman

Preventive Medicine Reports (Oct 2024)

Health behaviour and wellbeing trends among Australian adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2017–2022): An interrupted time-series analysis

Sarah Marshall,
Bronwyn McGill,
Christian Young,
Philip Clare,
Sarah Neill,
Margaret Thomas,
Adrian Bauman

Affiliations

Sarah Marshall: Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, the University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, the University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Corresponding author at: Level 6, The Hub, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
Bronwyn McGill: Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, the University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, the University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
Christian Young: Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, the University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; NSW Biostatistics Training Program, NSW Ministry of Health, Australia
Philip Clare: Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, the University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, the University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia
Sarah Neill: Centre for Population Health, NSW Ministry of Health, Australia
Margaret Thomas: Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, the University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, the University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
Adrian Bauman: Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, the University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, the University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 46
p. 102861

Abstract

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Objective: To explore population-level trends in health behaviours and wellbeing indicators from before (2017–2019) to during (2020–2022) the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. Methods: Using cross-sectional data from New South Wales Adult Population Health Surveys (2017–2022, n = 73,680 responses), we calculated weighted prevalence estimates and interrupted time-series logit models to investigate trends in health behavioural risk factors (vegetable and fruit intake, physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking, e-cigarette use), Body Mass Index (BMI) (overweight and obesity), and wellbeing indicators (psychological distress, self-rated health) among adults aged ≥ 16 years before and during the pandemic. Results: From 2017 to 2022, the behavioural risk factors and BMI trends were mostly unchanged. Similarly, wellbeing indicator trends showed only minor variations according to age. The interrupted time-series models found marked changes from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic for e-cigarette use and self-rated health. E-cigarette use showed an overall increasing trend, with significant increases from 2017 to 2022 (OR 8.25, 95 %CI 6.10–11.16). Poor self-rated health showed a stable trend before COVID-19, but decreased in 2020 (OR 0.68, 95 %CI 0.58–0.80) and 2021 (OR 0.70, 95 %CI 0.60–0.81), returning to pre-COVID levels in 2022 (OR 1.23, 95 %CI 1.07–1.41). During the pandemic (2020–2022), there were few statistically significant observed changes in prevalence trends according to SES indicators. Conclusion: Among Australian adults, relatively small population-level impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on health behaviours and wellbeing trends were observed. Continued surveillance and sub-group analyses are essential for investigating potential time-lagged effects and regional or sociodemographic differences in health behaviours and wellbeing.

Published in Preventive Medicine Reports

ISSN: 2211-3355 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/preventive-medicine-reports/

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