Luong, N., Barnett, I. and Aledavood, T.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on daily rhythms
Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. Volume 30. 2023.
-
This work examines temporal changes in daily activity rhythms and routines during the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasizes the disproportionate changes among working adult subgroups. We found that while walking activities remained stable, there was a reduction in nonwalking physical exercises. Additionally, migrants and those living alone showed less consistent daily movement rhythms than their counterparts. Those who preferred on-site work demonstrated more stable daily activities. Men and migrants were also quicker to resume on-site work post-restrictions. This research highlights the pandemic's uneven effects on diverse populations, suggesting that future crisis interventions should cater to the varied needs of different groups.
Luong, N., Mark, G., Kulshrestha, J. and Aledavood, T.
Sleep during COVID-19 pandemic: Longitudinal observational study combining multisensor data with questionnaires
JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 12(1), p.e53389
-
During the COVID-19 pandemic, work-from-home policies and reduced social interactions significantly impacted sleep patterns. This study analyzes over 27,000 nights of sleep from 112 working adults. We found that strict pandemic measures were linked to increased total sleep time and delayed sleep timing. Academic staff had shorter, more variable sleep durations compared to service staff, while early-day physical activity correlated with longer sleep. Those who frequently snoozed experienced greater sleep variability. Our findings highlight how the pandemic and lifestyle factors like occupation and daily habits influenced sleep patterns, highlighting the importance of flexible routines and external conditions in shaping sleep behavior during these challenging times.