Comparison of leisure time of the elderly in Tehran before and during the COVID۱۹ pandemic

Covid ۱۹ pandemic has had adverse effects on the elderly. One of the pervasive effects of COVID-۱۹, following social distance in the elderly, is a change in the way they spend their leisure time and reduce their physical activity.The aim of this study was to compare the leisure time of elderly before and during the COVID ۱۹ pandemic in Tehran.The study was an applied and descriptive-correlational study. ۴۳۷ people (۲۷۰ males, ۱۶۷ females) were selected using multi-stage random cluster sampling. A demographic questionnaire and The Activity Cards Sort (ACS) were used to assess leisure time. Using descriptive statistics frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviation, minimum, maximum and also tables and graphs were obtained and in inferential statistics Wilcoxon test was used at a significance level of ۰.۰۵ and data was analyzed using SPSS software version (۲۱).The results showed that during the COVID ۱۹ pandemic, the instrumental activities of the elderly increased significantly (p = ۰.۰۰۰۱ and Z = -۱۰.۵۸). Also, the low-effort activities of the elderly have increased significantly compared to before (p = ۰.۰۰۰۱ and Z = -۱۰.۵۵). However; high demand leisure as well as the current social activities of the elderly have decreased significantly compared to before (p = ۰.۰۰۰۱ and Z = ۹.۵۷) (p = ۰.۰۰۰۱ and Z = ۱۳.۹۸) .The results showed that participants reported changes in their physical activity due to the pandemic. The findings showed that physical activities, which can no longer be performed due to public health constraints, are replaced by other types of activities. For example, participants replaced the activities they typically performed at sports centers with activities at home. Participants experienced a significant reduction in high effort leisure time and social activities compared to before. Staying at home increases the amount of low effort leisure time activities and instrumental activities of people during the COVID ۱۹ pandemic.The results showed that increasing unorganized physical activity may be an alternative to structured physical activity, when environmental, personal, or motivational conditions prevent organized activities.

کلیدواژه ها:

Leisure time ، COVID ۱۹ virus pandemic ، Elderly