The Impact of the First and Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Eating Symptoms and Dysfunctional Eating Behaviours in the General Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Bonfanti, Rubinia Celeste; Sideli, Lucia; Teti, Arianna; Musetti, Alessandro; Cella, Stefania; Barberis, Nadia; Borsarini, Bianca; Fortunato, Lucia; Sechi, Cristina; Micali, Nadia; Lo Coco, Gianluca

doi:10.3390/nu15163607

Cited by 6 publications

References 121 publications

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The collateral effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic: A gender‐specific systematic review of disordered eating behaviour in the general population

Laskowski,

Brandt,

Reque

et al. 2024

Euro Eating Disorders Rev

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ObjectiveThe COVID‐19 pandemic initiated public health measures, impacting mental health and exacerbating disordered eating behaviours (DEB). This study aims to fill gaps in understanding DEB in the general population during the pandemic, emphasising gender dynamics and the experiences of gender and/or sexual minority (SGM) individuals.MethodA systematic literature review followed PRISMA guidelines to investigate DEB during the pandemic, focusing on gender‐sensitive analyses and SGM populations. Outcomes from the included studies were synthesised to identify patterns and associations related to DEB, particularly considering gender dynamics and SGM experiences.ResultsSignificant gender associations with DEB were observed, with women consistently exhibiting higher scores. SGM populations also showed elevated DEB symptoms. Longitudinal studies indicated changes in DEB over time, with some decreases observed among men.ConclusionsThe review underscores significant gender differences in DEB during the pandemic, with women exhibiting higher symptom levels. Lockdown measures had nuanced impacts on DEB, varying across studies. Various factors including pandemic‐related stressors influenced DEB. Consideration of these factors can inform tailored interventions for DEB in the general population. Overall, the review enhances our understanding of how gender intersects with the pandemic's impact on DEB, emphasising the need for diverse approaches to address these behaviours.

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The collateral effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic: A gender‐specific systematic review of disordered eating behaviour in the general population

Laskowski,

Brandt,

Reque

et al. 2024

Euro Eating Disorders Rev

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Long-term psychological implication of the COVID-19 pandemic: a network analysis among the Italian population

Cipriano,

Cavalera,

Stabile

et al. 2024

Curr Psychol

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The enduring psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is a subject of growing concern. Despite existing research highlighting immediate challenges, there is a lack of comprehensive studies elucidating specific pathways through which psychological variables contribute to the pandemic’s long-lasting implications. Through a network analysis approach, we aimed to investigate the mutual relationships and associations between eating disorder symptoms, guilt- and shame-proneness, psychopathological symptoms, self-esteem, defence mechanisms, and mentalization and understand how they might interact two years after the pandemic's outbreak. From March to August 2022, 651 Italian young adults (females = 593, 91.1%) aged between 18 and 38 (Mage = 23.84, SD = 3.74) were recruited online and completed a digital booklet of self-report questionnaires. A weighted, undirected graphical LASSO network was performed to investigate the structure of the nodes. A stable and accurate network structure showed that the most interconnected nodes were psychoticism, interpersonal sensitivity, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, depression, anxiety, paranoid ideation, and immature defences, suggesting their central role in the network functioning. Findings emphasized the enduring psychological impact of the pandemic, elucidating the complex interplay and dynamic impact of key psychopathological symptoms and defence mechanisms. The network tested also provides valuable insights for developing targeted interventions and effective strategies to address post-pandemic mental health challenges.

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Anxiety symptoms and coping strategies used by older adults during COVID-19: A national e-study of linkages among and between them.

Low,

França,

Gao

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Background During the COVID-19 pandemic older adults experienced a variety of symptoms of anxiety. They employed a number of different strategies to deal with these. The aim of this study was to create a blueprint of older Canadians’ symptoms of pandemic-related anxiety and coping strategies, and linkages among and between them. Particular attention was paid to identifying the most-pernicious symptoms and variables that might facilitate application of the most beneficial coping strategies. Methods An e-survey was conducted with 1,327 older Canadians in the Summer of 2022, when public health measures were lifting across Canada. Anxiety was measured using the Geriatric Anxiety Scale − 10. Participants also completed the Coping with Stress and Anxiety personal assessment tool. Network analysis permitted us to examine linkages among respondents’ self-reported symptoms, and between their most pernicious symptoms of anxiety and the strategies to cope with them. Results Findings revealed a troubling trio of anxiety symptoms of central importance to our respondents: feelings of restlessness, muscle tension and having no control over their lives. Restless and no control over my life were particularly pernicious because they explained between 64–68% of the variance in 8 other anxiety symptoms. Coping seemed to occur through trial and error. Some strategies appeared to work in tandem and others in opposition to each other. Responders remembering resilience and staying active functioned as bridges shielding older people from worry, restlessness, and tension through spurning other remedial actions. Discussion This study provides evidence of a stable and predictable network of anxiety symptoms containing three particularly pernicious symptoms. Coping strategies, some seemingly working in tandem and some in opposition, or as bridges to recovery speak to the complex and arduous nature of mentally healthy recovery work. A visual representation of how anxiety symptoms can operate as a network might help older people better understand their own symptom experiences. Combining the two networks offers a blueprint of what within-person recovery might look like and a visual teaching tool for practitioners and program developers; older people could gain added insight into their own recovery experience.

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The Impact of the First and Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Eating Symptoms and Dysfunctional Eating Behaviours in the General Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Cited by 6 publications

References 121 publications

The collateral effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic: A gender‐specific systematic review of disordered eating behaviour in the general population

The collateral effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic: A gender‐specific systematic review of disordered eating behaviour in the general population

Long-term psychological implication of the COVID-19 pandemic: a network analysis among the Italian population

Anxiety symptoms and coping strategies used by older adults during COVID-19: A national e-study of linkages among and between them.

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