A cross-sectional study on health behavior changes during COVID-19 among adults in Malaysia

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 has triggered significant disruptions globally, necessitating swift adaptations in individuals’ health behaviors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during Phase Four of Malaysia’s National Recovery Plan and examines how the pandemic has affected health behaviors among adult Malaysians. The study gathered data online using convenience sampling with 1,004 respondents aged 18 and above. The research focused on diverse health domains, including eating habits, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and sleep patterns. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank test and descriptive statistics were employed to compare health behaviors before and after COVID-19. Results: Findings indicate noteworthy shifts in eating behaviors, with increased water and fruit consumption (p