Table 5.
Behavioral change motivations among a sample of US adults for increasing and decreasing positive and negative health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent “Stay-at-Home” orders, 2020.
| Behavioral Change and Motivations | N (%) | n (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Total reasons given for change | 6065 (100.0) | |
| Decrease negative health behaviors a | 316 (5.2) | 316 (100.0) |
| More responsibility | 31 (0.5) | 31 (9.8) |
| Less time available | 30 (0.5) | 30 (9.5) |
| Resource concerns b | 58 (1.0) | 58 (18.4) |
| Health concerns c | 107 (1.8) | 107 (33.9) |
| Other | 90 (1.5) | 90 (28.5) |
| Increase negative health behaviors a | 1597 (26.3) | 1597 (100.0) |
| Less responsibility | 215 (3.5) | 215 (13.5) |
| More time available | 431 (7.1) | 431 (27.0) |
| More worried d | 242 (4.0) | 242 (15.2) |
| Lonely/unhappy | 227 (3.7) | 227 (14.2) |
| Boredom | 375 (6.2) | 375 (23.5) |
| Other | 107 (1.8) | 107 (6.7) |
| Increase positive health behaviors e | 2216 (36.5) | 2216 (100.0) |
| More time available | 930 (15.3) | 930 (42.0) |
| Boredom | 254 (4.2) | 254 (11.5) |
| Social connection | 230 (3.8) | 230 (10.4) |
| Stress relief | 419 (6.9) | 419 (18.9) |
| Health concerns | 334 (5.5) | 334 (15.1) |
| Other | 49 (0.8) | 49 (2.2) |
| Decrease positive health behaviors e | 1936 (31.9) | 1936 (100.0) |
| Less time available | 221 (3.6) | 221 (11.4) |
| Less motivation | 434 (7.1) | 434 (22.4) |
| More worried/stressed | 599 (9.9) | 599 (30.9) |
| Resource concerns f | 454 (7.5) | 454 (23.5) |
| Illness | 7 (0.1) | 7 (0.4) |
| Other | 221 (3.6) | 221 (11.4) |
Note: a Includes tobacco use, drug use, and alcohol consumption. b Includes financial concerns and concerns about limited locations available to engage in negative health behaviors. c Includes maintaining/improving health, and due to illness. d Includes worries about health, finances, and job security. e Includes physical activity and sleep quality. f Includes concerns about locations to engage in physical activity.