Abstract
BackgroundThe Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic dramatically transformed daily life for adolescents and young adults, altering social and physical environments. Previous research has shown such shifts in daily life to be especially challenging for people living with eating disorders (ED). However, the extent of this environmental change on ED symptoms and mental health (MH) has been relatively unexplored in patients with EDs. This study examines how young people with EDs feel the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their living environments as well as their ED and MH symptoms and motivation for ED recovery.MethodsParticipants were enrollees in the Registry of Eating Disorders and their Co-morbidities OVER time in Youth (RECOVERY) who responded to an additional survey (n = 89) in July 2020 to assess their perceptions of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants reported on concerns of their ED worsening due to increased time living in a “triggering environment” due to the pandemic as well as perceived COVID-related changes in intrusive ED thoughts, depression, anxiety, isolation, and motivation to recover. Logistic regression models, adjusted for age and ED diagnosis, examined the association of triggering environment with ED and MH symptoms.ResultsThe majority of respondents reported concern for worsening of their ED due to a “triggering environment” (63%). Most reported an increase in ED thoughts (74%), feelings of anxiety (77%), depression (73%), and isolation (80%) they perceived to be related to the pandemic. Nearly one-third reported decrease in motivation to recover (29%) they perceived to be related to the pandemic. After adjusting for age and ED diagnosis, participants who reported concern for worsening of their ED due to a triggering environment had nearly 18 times the odds of decreased motivation to recover (OR 18.1; 95% CI 3.37–97.4, p = 0.003) and nearly 24 times the odds of increased ED thoughts (OR 23.8; 95% CI 4.31–131.6, p < 0.001) compared to those who did not report concern for worsening of their ED due to a triggering environment.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate the perceived negative impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the self-reported ED and MH symptoms in patients with EDs, particularly in those who report concern for a negative environmental change. These results underscore the need for heightened monitoring of patients with EDs during the pandemic.
Highlights
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic dramatically transformed daily life for adolescents and young adults, altering social and physical environments
Previous research has detailed the profound impact the pandemic has had on mental health (MH), among individuals with eating disorders (ED) [22]
This study explored how individuals with eating disorders perceive the COVID-19 pandemic to have impacted their ED symptoms and overall MH
Summary
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic dramatically transformed daily life for adolescents and young adults, altering social and physical environments. Following rising cases throughout the U.S, many states implemented stay-at-home advisories and social distancing efforts, strongly recommending physical isolation and at-home quarantine for the health and safety of residents. Early studies have demonstrated psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and young adults who have been quarantined and/or following stay-at-home recommendations. These consequences include post-traumatic stress symptoms, depression, anxiety, feelings of fear, isolation, and nervousness [5,6,7]
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