learnings and opportunities: coronavirus impacts on our

Victorian Health Promotion FoundationVictorian Health Promotion Foundation

Learnings and opportunities: Coronavirus impacts on our health, wellbeing and physical activity

Chris Lacey (he/him)

Manager, Physical Activity and Sport, Programs

Dr Annemarie Wright (she/her)

Principal Research Advisor, Policy and Research Office

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• Unequal impacts of coronavirus on the health and wellbeing of Victorians

• Challenges in maintaining our community connections, accessing healthy and affordable food, managing the shutting down of our traditional sport and physical activity programs

• Victorians’ renewed interest in walking and bike riding and some great collaborative partnerships

2

Outline

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Presentation Name3

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Online survey of 2000 Victorians aged 18-75+

Wave 1 - 29th May - 8th June 2020

Wave 2 - 10th- 21st September

Survey Questions

1. What has been the impact of the second wave on people’s health and wellbeing?

2. Has the second wave changed people’s health and wellbeing relative to the first?

3. What factors have influenced these changes?

4. How does this vary by socio-demographics and recent experiences e.g. job loss, the summer bushfires

4

Coronavirus Victorian Wellbeing

Impact Survey

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After the first wave we saw significant impacts on food security, social connection and physical activity levels

Areas of Improvement since first wave

- Food insecurity, risk of short-term harm from alcohol, financial hardship

Areas of Decline since first wave

- Life satisfaction, subjective wellbeing, social connection

Areas of Stability/no change

- Physical activity, healthy & unhealthy food consumption, smoking, psychological distress

5

Overall survey results


General Wellbeing Results

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76

.6

77

.5

77

.3

65

62

2007 2011 2015 2020 W1 2020 W2

Subjective Wellbeing

7

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Domains of subjective wellbeing

How satisfied are you with …? (score out of 10, higher is more favourable)

How safe you feel

Your health

Your standard of living

Your personal relationships

Your future security

What you are currently achieving in life

Feeling part of your community

Combined wellbeing indicator

6.9

6.7

6.5

6.3

6.0

5.6

5.2

62.0

6.7

6.9

6.8

6.8

6.1

6.2

5.8

65.0

Second lockdown First lockdown

q

q

q

q

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% Lack of social connection with others

For 25-34 year olds

Lack of social connection in women (41%) is twice that of men (20%)

Victoria overall

GenderMale

Female

Age

18 to 24 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

55 to 64 years

65 to 74 years

75 or more

SEIFA

Lowest – 1

2

3

4

Highest – 5

Region

Inner metro

Middle metro

Outer metro

Interface

Regional city

Large shire

Small shire

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Language other than English at home

Self-reported disability

Main activity in February 2020

Employed

Unemployed

Home duties

Student

Retired

Income

Less than $40,000

$40,000–$59,999

$60,000–$99,999

$100,000–$149,999

$150,000 or more

Live in bushfire area

Household structure

Person living aloneCouple living alone

Parent(s) with child under 18Couple with child under 18

Single parent with child under 18

Parent(s) with no child under 18Share house

Government assistance

Eligible for JobKeeper

Eligible for JobSeeker

Significant improvement

◄ Less favourable result More favourable result

Significant declineSecond lockdown First lockdown February 2020

worseC1. Connection to others (% disagree)

10

11

9

10

9

12

9

13

7

10

14

10

9

12

8

8

9

15

11

10

7

13

7

11

15

7

19

9

8

11

15

8

11

8

2

18

15

10

8

8

9

6

11

9

12

23

23

23

24

22

23

21

28

20

26

26

25

24

21

20

18

19

27

24

31

19

26

28

25

33

18

36

16

26

24

30

19

25

16

11

22

28

20

24

22

36

15

43

27

32

29

27

31

25

31

31

30

30

31

19

30

30

32

27

27

35

26

31

32

23

24

32

14

30

33

28

36

37

30

26

31

35

28

24

20

32

34

26

32

32

32

20

31

31

31

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% Agreement with community connection statements

Only 1 in 3 felt part of the community during lockdown two

My neighbourhood is a good place to live

I trust my neighbours

I am proud to be a member of my community

People work together to get things done for this community

People in my neighbourhood share the same values

My neighbours are helping each other get through COVID-19

I feel I am part of the community

73%

58%

46%

42%

40%

36%

35%

71%

58%

50%

44%

39%

39%

42%

Second lockdown First lockdown

q

q


Healthy Eating Results

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Daily sugary drink consumption

1 in 3 people consumed sugary drinks daily in wave 2

Improvements:

- Young people

- Language other than English

- Employed

- Income $40-60K

Victoria overall

GenderMale

Female

Age

18 to 24 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

55 to 64 years

65 to 74 years

75 or more

SEIFA

Lowest – 1

2

3

4

Highest – 5

Region

Inner metro

Middle metro

Outer metro

Interface

Regional city

Large shire

Small shire





Employed

Unemployed

Home duties

Student

Retired

Income

Less than $40,000

$40,000–$59,999

$60,000–$99,999

$100,000–$149,999

$150,000 or more


Household structure








◄ Less favourable result More favourable result 32

39

26

50

37

30

34

24

23

20

31

35

36

30

31

42

30

32

32

35

23

36

80

37

38

39

35

21

38

25

33

45

33

31

36

55

29

27

36

34

49

27

41

43

47

29

36

23

38

36

30

26

23

20

21

26

32

31

27

27

35

29

25

27

37

24

27

77

25

32

32

34

30

29

20

29

29

33

32

29

34

28

27

34

33

47

22

26

34

37

worseN1. SSB consumption (% everyday)

Figure 44Daily sugar sweetened beverage consumption Significant improvement

Significant declineSecond lockdown First lockdown

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Child & adolescent sugary drink consumption

% sugary drinks daily

More, less or same during lockdown

compared to Feb 2020

1-4 years (n=81)

5-11 years (n=173)

12-17 years (n=179)

13%

18%

28%

18%

10%

12%

70%

67%

65%

7%

16%

17%

More Same Less

1-4 years (n=81)

5-11 years (n=173)

12-17 years (n=179)

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Child & adolescent unhealthy snack food consumption

Number of unhealthy snacks per day



1-4 years (n=81)

5-11 years (n=173)

12-17 years (n=179)

9%

3%

2%

53%

48%

59%

12%

20%

12%

3%

9%

4%

None 1-2 times a day 3-4 times a day 5 or more times a day

15%

32%

18%

65%

53%

67%

9%

9%

12%

More Same Less

1-4 years (n=81)

5-11 years (n=173)

12-17 years (n=179)

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% Reliance on low-cost unhealthy food due to shortage of money

Improvements

• Young people

• High SES

• Unemployed

• Parents of U18s

• Bushfire communities

Little change

• Inner metro

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

• JobSeeker

Victoria overall

GenderMale

Female

Age

18 to 24 years

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

55 to 64 years

65 to 74 years

75 or more

SEIFA

Lowest – 1

2

3

4

Highest – 5

Region

Inner metro

Middle metro

Outer metro

Interface

Regional city

Large shire

Small shire





Employed

Unemployed

Home duties

Student

Retired

Income

Less than $40,000

$40,000–$59,999

$60,000–$99,999

$100,000–$149,999

$150,000 or more


Household structure








? Less favourable result More favourable result

23

25

21

44

33

25

18

15

8

5

24

29

21

19

23

36

18

27

29

18

11

13

54

36

25

24

40

26

25

11

26

28

21

19

17

45

21

13

30

29

38

20

29

37

39

18

20

17

29

28

23

12

11

8

5

25

21

16

18

15

33

13

21

19

21

8

18

56

23

19

20

21

25

18

7

20

24

13

22

14

30

22

10

23

22

26

14

22

28

33

worseD7a

Figure 55 Significant improvement

Significant declineSecond lockdown First lockdown


Alcohol Consumption Results

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Reasons for drinking more Reasons for drinking less

I was bored

I was anxious or stressed

I had more time

I didn't need to stay below .05 for driving

I felt lonely

The person/people I live with are drinking alcohol

Socialising online often involves alcohol

I had more income

I had less income

Other

46%

43%

32%

28%

20%

14%

9%

7%

4%

4%

I can't socialise with the people I usually drink with

The places where I usually drink are closed e.g. bars, clubs, restaurants

I wanted to improve my health in general

I had less income

I had fewer opportunities to drink at home

I was specifically concerned that drinking alcohol could increase the risk

or severity of COVID-19

I had more income

Other

44%

33%

31%

15%

14%

12%

1%

4%


Financial Hardship Results

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% Financial hardship

Second lockdown

Could not pay electricity, gas or telephone bills on time

Asked for financial help from friends or family

Could not pay the rent or mortgage on time

Pawned or sold something

Asked for help from welfare/community organisations

Applied for early access to my superannuation*

Experienced any form of financial hardship*

8%q

7%q

6%

6%q

4%q

7%

18%q

11%

12%

7%

8%

8%

24%

8%

8%

5%

6%

5%

16%

First lockdown February 2020


Physical Activity Results

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Are you doing more, less or the same amount of physical activity compared to Feb 2020?

46%

37%

30%

37%

20%

21%

Second lockdown

First lockdown

Less Same More

q

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Reasons for more physical activity Reasons for less physical activity

Low motivation

Having to wear a mask

I’ve been concerned about catching COVID-19

One hour limit for outdoor physical activity

5km zone travel restriction

Nowhere to exercise at home

I don’t feel safe being physically active outside

Poor health or injury

I have no-one to exercise with

More childcare responsibilities

8pm/9pm to 5am curfew

Having less time

No suitable park or path for physical activity outside

Can only exercise with one other person

Closed gyms/sporting facilities

51%

34%

22%

22%

22%

21%

15%

14%

14%

12%

11%

10%

8%

8%

2%

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Child & adolescent physical activity

Number of days



27%

24%

27%

19%

43%

40%

36%

25%

29%

0-1 days 2-4 days 5-7 days

1-4 years (n=81)

5-11 years (n=173)

12-17 years (n=179)

18%

52%

47%

54%

32%

38%

21%

11%

12%

Less Same More

1-4 years (n=81)

5-11 years (n=173)

12-17 years (n=179)

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% Change in involvement in community groups/clubs

3 in 4 women stopped involvement in sports clubs during lockdown

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Planned involvement in community groups/clubs after lockdown

More than half of all respondents (56%) wanted to be involved in a group or club after lockdown

20%

15%

14%

14%

13%

11%

9%

8%

8%

7%

7%

7%

6%

6%

5%

5%

3%

7%

Sports club

Informal exercise group

Community social benefit group

Formal fitness class/group

Religious group

Hobby group

Education/study groups

School volunteer group

Online social/gaming group

Parents of young children group

Environmental group

Music group

Arts group

Cultural/ethnic group

Book club

Dance group

Political group

Other


What did VicHealth do?

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Impacts and opportunities

• Renewed interest in walking and bike riding

• VicHealth and partners changed approaches

- COVID-19 Working Groups established

- New Grants

• Department of Transport pop up bike lanes

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Key Response: Walking and Bike Riding Post COVID-19 Working Group

4 agreed focus areas by the working group:

1. Joined up ask for funding from Federal and/or State Government

2. Joined up ask for more enabled approvals from Department of Transport

3. Ensure best supports to enable local governments to deliver effectively and quickly

4. Coordinate and leverage data and insights

“Huge public support for temporary or pop up cycling and walking infrastructure - 80-90% of population and not just cycling enthusiasts” - RACV and Amy Gillett Foundation

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1. MAV Walking and Bike Riding Project – to support councils for increasing infrastructure

2. ‘Streets for Everyone’ Consensus Statement – 3 practical recommendations for implementation

3. Values Based Messaging Guide – to build public support

4. Monash University research projects – LGA cycling research, research priorities

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Walking and Bike Riding projects

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- Focus on local government policy work through LG Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plans

- Build future partnerships with organisations to meet the health promotion needs of Victorians in most need and children aged 0-25

- Leverage the policy and consensus statements produced to influence and advocate for change

- Share learnings with sectors to continune to build sector capability and promote partnerships to maximise outcomes

30

What’s next?


Thank you.Questions?

Chris Lacey - [email protected]

Dr. Annemarie Wright [email protected]

For further survey information: VicHealth Coronavirus Victorian Wellbeing Impact Survey

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/media-and-resources/publications/vichealth-coronavirus-victorian-wellbeing-impact-study-follow-up-survey

learnings and opportunities: coronavirus impacts on our

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