Results of Wave 37 of the CoviPrev survey (September 11–18, 2023)

• 79% of French people report having a positive outlook on life in general [Trend stable compared to the previous wave, comparable to the same period in 2022]

• 16% of French people show signs of depression [Trend stable compared to the previous wave, comparable to the same period in 2022]

• 23% of French people show signs of anxiety [Trend stable compared to the previous wave, down 3 points compared to the same period in 2022]

• 71% of French people report sleep problems over the past 8 days [Stable trend compared to the previous wave, comparable to the same period in 2022]

• 10% of French people have had suicidal thoughts over the past year [Trend stable compared to the previous survey, down 2 percentage points compared to the same period in 2022]

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• How is the mental health of the French population evolving? – Results of Wave 37 of the CoviPrev survey

• Results from previous waves

Prevalence and trends by indicator

• Prevalence and trends in mental health indicators during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Cognitive and emotional determinants associated with anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and suicidal thoughts

Anxiety

• Prevalence and trends in anxiety according to sociodemographic profiles and living conditions related to the pandemic

Depression

• Prevalence and trends in depression according to sociodemographic profiles and living conditions related to the pandemic

Sleep problems

• Prevalence and trends in sleep problems by sociodemographic profiles and living conditions related to the pandemic

Suicidal thoughts

• Prevalence and trends in suicidal thoughts by sociodemographic profiles and living conditions related to the pandemic

The results presented here are from Wave 38 (August 30–September 9, 2024).

• 29% of CoviPrev respondents reported wearing a mask often (16%) or always (13%) when experiencing symptoms, in the presence of vulnerable people, or in crowded places.

• 43% of participants reported never wearing a mask when experiencing symptoms, in the presence of vulnerable people, or in crowded places.

• 7% never wash their hands with soap or hand sanitizer.

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• How is the French public’s adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures evolving? Results of Wave 38 of the CoviPrev survey

• Results from previous waves

Adoption of preventive measures by indicator
- Frequency and trends in indicators of preventive measure adoption during the epidemic

Consistent mask-wearing in public
- Prevalence and trends in consistent mask-wearing in public by sociodemographic profile and living conditions related to the pandemic

The results presented cover Wave 38 (August 30–September 9, 2024).

• 59% of participants eligible for the new dose of the COVID-19 vaccine intend to get vaccinated this fall.

• 50% (stable) of participants at risk of severe influenza due to their age (≥65 years) or health status (comorbidities, obesity) report wanting to receive both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines.

• 23% (stable) of participants at risk of severe illness report that they do not intend to receive either the flu or the COVID-19 vaccine this fall.

Download:

• How is the French public’s adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures evolving? Results from Wave 38 of the CoviPrev survey

• Results from previous waves

The analyses presented focus on reported changes in tobacco and alcohol consumption levels during the lockdown.

Changes in tobacco use

Among the smokers surveyed (n=422):

• 27% report that their tobacco use has increased since the lockdown

• 55% said it remained stable

• 19% reported that it had decreased

Almost all individuals reporting an increase in consumption were already smokers before the lockdown (94%). The average increase in the number of cigarettes smoked by daily smokers is 5 cigarettes per day.

The reasons cited by smokers reporting an increase in consumption were, in order (n=104, multiple responses allowed):

• boredom, lack of activity (74%)

• stress (48%)

• pleasure (10%)

The increase in tobacco use was most frequently cited by:

• people aged 25–34 (41%)

• people working from home (37%)

• women (31%)

Increased tobacco use rises with anxiety levels and is more common in cases of probable or confirmed depression.

Changes in alcohol use

Among the alcohol users surveyed (n=1,344):

• 11% report that their alcohol consumption has increased since the lockdown

• 65% said it has remained stable

• 24% said it had decreased

The reasons cited by alcohol consumers who reported an increase in their consumption were, in order:

• pleasure (45%)

• boredom, lack of activity (32%)

• stress (15%)

51% reported increasing the frequency of their drinking, 10% the number of drinks consumed on drinking days, and 23% both factors (note that the detailed data are inconsistent for 15% of respondents).

The increase in alcohol consumption is most frequently cited by:

• those under 50 (between 14% and 17% depending on age group)

• people living in a city with more than 100,000 inhabitants (13%)

• Parents of children under 16 (18%)

Increased alcohol consumption is associated with a higher risk of anxiety and depression.

The analyses presented focus on reported changes in weight, snacking, “home cooking,” access to food, and attention paid to food budgets.

Changes in weight

Among all respondents (n=2010):

• 27% reported gaining weight

• 11% reported losing weight

• 62% reported that their weight remained stable

Weight gain was mentioned more frequently:

• in cases of very difficult financial situations (36%)

• by parents (34%)

• by those under 40 (31%)

• by those eating larger portions (66%) and snacking more between meals (60%) than usual

• in cases of depression (42%), sleep problems (36%), and high levels of anxiety (37%)

Weight loss is mentioned more frequently:

• by those under 40 (14%)

• by those eating smaller portions (33%) and snacking less (25%) than usual

• in cases of high anxiety (14%)

Changes in snacking

Among all respondents (n=2010):

• 22% report snacking between meals more than usual

• 17% less than usual

• 61% have not changed their habits

Changes in "cooking homemade meals"

Among all respondents (n=2010):

• 37% say they cook homemade meals more often than usual

• 4% less than usual

• 59% have not changed anything

Changes in the availability of food products

Among all respondents (n=2010):

• 57% say they find the foods they want in stores less often than usual

• 3% more than usual

• 40% as much as before

Changes in attention paid to the food budget

Among all respondents (n=2010):

• 23% are paying more attention than usual to their food budget

• 14% pay less attention than usual

• 63% have not changed anything

Snacking between meals more than usual, finding fewer of the desired foods in stores than usual, and paying more attention than usual to one’s food budget are more frequently mentioned by those under 40, parents, women, and those in very difficult financial situations.
This is also the case for people with depressive disorders, sleep problems, and anxiety.

Key indicators of physical activity levels and sedentary behavior among the French population during Wave 24 (May 17–19, 2021), one year after the strict lockdown:

• 1 in 2 adults reported insufficient physical activity, below recommendations [No change since Wave 6 during the strict lockdown, indicating a persistent decline in adult physical activity over time despite the easing of restrictions]

• One in five adults reported high levels of sedentary behavior, spending more than 7 hours a day sitting [a 12-point decrease compared to the strict lockdown period (Wave 6); this decrease was observed only among those reporting continued professional activity, excluding people working remotely, for whom no change in daily time spent sitting was noted]

Learn more: Changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior levels among the French population one year after the strict lockdown of 2020

The analyses presented focus on reported prevalence and trends in physical activity, time spent sitting, and time spent in front of a screen during lockdown (n=2000).

Physical activity

Among all respondents:

• 57.6% engaged in less than the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity per day1 during lockdown. This was more common among women, those aged 25–49, those with lower levels of education, parents of children aged 16 or younger, and people living in urban areas.

Compared to their pre-lockdown habits:

• 47.4% of people reported a decrease in their overall physical activity

• 58.9% reported a decrease in walking

• 37.1% reported a decrease in sports activity

Regarding sports activities, 17.9% nevertheless reported an increase in their participation, which grew over the course of the lockdown period (15.4% of respondents between April 14 and 16).

Among those who engaged in sports (n=1,170), 32.7% used apps, videos, or television more than usual to do so.

Sedentary behavior

Time spent sitting:

• During lockdown, the average time spent sitting was 6 hours and 19 minutes per day

• One-third of respondents (33.4%) reported spending more than 7 hours sitting per day, most frequently among those aged 18–24, those who worked from home during lockdown, and those living in urban areas

• An increase in time spent sitting was also reported by 61.4% of respondents.

Breaking sedentary habits:

• 44.7% reported getting up several times an hour, with the recommendation during lockdown being to do so at least every half ^hour2

• 55.3% stood up less often, particularly those aged 18–34, those with higher education, people who worked from home during lockdown, and people living in urban areas

Screen time during leisure time:

• The average time spent in front of a screen during leisure time was 5 hours per day

• 23.0% of respondents reported spending 7 hours or more per day on screens, most frequently among those aged 18–24, those with lower levels of education, those who did not work during lockdown, and those living in urban areas

• An increase in screen time during leisure time was reported by 59.0% of respondents

Mental health, physical activity, and sedentary behavior

Reduced physical activity, high amounts of time spent sitting, infrequent breaks from sedentary behavior, and time spent in front of a screen for leisure were reported more frequently by:

• anxious individuals

• people with depressive disorders

• people with sleep problems

1 Physical activity includes activities performed at work, at home, or in the garden, for transportation, or during sports or leisure activities.
2 Opinion of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety regarding the assessment of risks associated with reduced physical activity and increased sedentary behavior during lockdown. Maisons-Alfort, 2020. 22 p.

• Physical activity of less than 30 minutes per day by sociodemographic profile (weighted %)

• Time spent sitting more than 7 hours per day by sociodemographic profile (weighted %)

• Time spent in front of a screen during leisure time exceeding 7 hours per day by sociodemographic profile (weighted %)