There is currently major concern about the impact of the global COVID-19 outbreak on mental health. But it remains unclear how individual behaviours could exacerbate or protect against adverse changes in mental health.

To examine the associations between specific activities (or time use) and mental health and well-being among people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Data were from the UCL COVID-19 Social Study, a panel study collecting data weekly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analytical sample consisted of 55 204 adults living in the UK who were followed up for the 11-week strict lockdown period from 21 March to 31 May 2020. Data were analysed using fixed-effects and Arellano–Bond models.

Changes in time spent on a range of activities were associated with changes in mental health and well-being. After controlling for bidirectionality, behaviours involving outdoor activities such as gardening and exercising predicted subsequent improvements in mental health and well-being, whereas increased time spent following news about COVID-19 predicted declines in mental health and well-being.

These results are relevant to the formulation of guidance for people obliged to spend extended periods in isolation during health emergencies and may help the public to maintain well-being during future lockdowns and pandemics.

目前，人们主要担心全球 COVID-19 爆发对心理健康的影响。但目前尚不清楚个人行为如何加剧或防止心理健康的不利变化。

研究 COVID-19 大流行期间特定活动（或时间使用）与人们的心理健康和福祉之间的关联。

数据来自 UCL COVID-19 社会研究，这是一项在 COVID-19 大流行期间每周收集数据的小组研究。分析样本由居住在英国的 55204 名成年人组成，他们在 2020 年 3 月 21 日至 5 月 31 日为期 11 周的严格封锁期间进行了随访。使用固定效应和 Arellano-Bond 模型分析数据。

花在一系列活动上的时间变化与心理健康和幸福感的变化有关。在控制了双向性之后，涉及户外活动（如园艺和锻炼）的行为预示着心理健康和幸福感的后续改善，而在有关 COVID-19 的消息后花费的时间增加则预示着心理健康和幸福感的下降。

这些结果与为在突发卫生事件期间被迫长时间隔离的人们制定指南有关，并可能帮助公众在未来的封锁和大流行期间保持健康。