Running Through the Haze: How Wildfire Smoke Affects Physical Activity and Mental Well-Being

Background: With a warming climate, extreme wild fi res are more likely to occur, which may adversely affect air quality, physical activity (PA), and therefore, mental well-being. Methods: We assessed PA engagement and mental well-being between periods with and without wild fi re smoke, and whether there were associations between changes in PA behavior and mental well-being. Questionnaires on PA and mental well-being during a period of wild fi re smoke were completed by 348 participants; of these participants, 162 also completed a follow-up PA and mental well-being questionnaire during a period without wild fi re smoke. Data were analyzed using generalized/linear mixed models. Relationships between mental well-being and PA were analyzed using repeated-measures correlations. Results: Leisure-time walking, moderate PA, and vigorous PA were all significantly lower during periods of smoke compared to periods without smoke. Participants also experienced signi fi cantly higher symptoms of stress (11.63 [1.91] vs 10.20 [1.70], P = .039), anxiety (7.75 [2.24] vs 4.38 [1.32], P < .001), and depression (9.67 [0.90] vs 7.27 [0.76], P < .001) during the period of wild fi re smoke. Vigorous PA, the proportion of PA time spent outdoors, and the sum of PA during leisure time, were signi fi cantly negatively correlated with mental well-being, therefore, it is possible that PA could be used as a tool during times of wild fi re smoke. Conclusions: These data suggest that PA and mental well-being are adversely impacted during wild fi re smoke events. Future research should consider the impact of strategies to support PA during wild fi re events on PA and mental well-being.