Abstract
Large surveys indicate that many people perceive that their health behaviors (i.e., eating behaviors, physical activity, and self-care routines) and body image have changed during COVID-19; however, large individual variation exists. A person’s cognitive appraisal of COVID-19 disruptions may help account for individual differences. Those with a negative problem orientation perceive problems as “threats”, whereas those with a positive problem orientation reframe problems as “opportunities”. The present experimental study examined the impact of appraisals, specifically being prompted to reflect on the changes in health routines precipitated by COVID-19 restrictions as either “threats” or “opportunities”, on problem orientation, coping behaviours, body image, and perceptions of eating behaviors and physical activity in a sample of female undergraduate students (N = 363). The group that reflected on challenges/barriers reported having a more negative problem orientation, being more negatively impacted by COVID-19, engaging in more maladaptive coping behaviors, and having less positive body image compared to participants who reflected on opportunities presented during the pandemic. Findings suggest that appraisals and problem orientation are malleable, and that people who tend to fixate on the challenges associated with COVID-19 may benefit from strategically reflecting on their own resilience and new opportunities that have arisen for engaging in health behaviors.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in drastic changes to everyday life as mandatory lockdowns and social distancing measures were enforced to reduce spread of the virus
Studies from large community samples suggest that many people perceive their eating behaviors, physical activity, and body image to have changed during the pandemic; large individual differences have been observed
An emerging body of research indicates that COVID-19 has had a significant impact on eating behaviors, physical activity, and body image; substantial individual differences in the trajectories of these changes suggest that the relationship is complex [7]
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in drastic changes to everyday life as mandatory lockdowns and social distancing measures were enforced to reduce spread of the virus. Studies from large community samples suggest that many people perceive their eating behaviors, physical activity, and body image to have changed during the pandemic; large individual differences have been observed. A British study reported that women, individuals under the age of 30, and those with a past/current eating disorder were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 [7]. Women and those with an eating disorder were more likely to report greater difficulty regulating their eating, greater food preoccupation, more exercise, and worse body image during the pandemic
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