Establishing physical functioning, quality of life and well-being during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia

The sudden emergence of COVID-19 has led to the confinement of people in homes around the world. In Croatia as well, people were in self-isolation and stayed at home. Since confinement conditions may greatly affect physical and mental health, we investigated the scope of physical activity (PA), well-being and quality of life. A total of 580 adults were surveyed online about PA and health-related quality of life during the lockdown in Croatia. The results have shown that men are more involved in vigorous-intensity PA and have better physical and mental health in almost all domains. When comparing respondents regarding categories of PA, participants with high levels of PA function better physically, have fewer role limitations due to emotional problems and have higher levels of emotional well-being, vitality, and general health. Males, participants with lower BMI, fewer role limitations due to emotional problems, greater vitality and better social functioning have better physical health. Participants who consider that their PA is adequate and engage more in PA, who have fewer role limitations due to physical health, less physical pain, and better general health have better mental health. The results provide insights into the physical and mental components of health during the pandemic. This supports the premise that physical and mental health are highly dependent, and that there is a need to promote the importance of PA, especially for women and those who are less physically active in pandemic times.