Abstract
(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic exerts a negative influence on dietary behaviors, which may lead to health deterioration. Dietary behaviors may be determined by psychological characteristics, such as basic hope and resilience, which facilitate the effective adjustment to new difficult conditions. The professional literature includes no research on the role of basic hope and resilience in the context of undertaken dietary behaviors in the situations of mental load associated with pandemics. The study aimed at the description of the dietary behaviors of individuals with various intensities of the discussed psychological characteristics (basic hope and resilience); (2) The observational cross-sectional online questionnaire study was conducted with the participation of 1082 adult Polish inhabitants. Three psychological scales were used: PSS-10, the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) and BHI-12 questionnaire. The assessment of the adherence to dietary recommendations was performed with the present authors’ Dietary Guidelines Adherence Index (DGA Index); (3) Results: The value of DGA Index was variable depending on the psychological profile of study participants. The highest adherence to the principles of appropriate nutrition was observed in individuals characterized by the ability to cope with difficult situations and those who quickly adapted to new changing circumstances. The DGA Index values became poorer with the deterioration of the coping ability as regards stress and mental load; (4) Conclusions: Nutritional education during pandemics should encompass the psychological profile of the patients. It requires the implementation of a different psychodietetic approach which will facilitate a more effective introduction of a well-balanced diet.
Highlights
Introduction iationsThe state of epidemic threat was introduced in Poland in the middle of March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic
The present study showed that the value of DGA Index varied depending on the psychological profile of study participants
The present study indicated the need to analyze the mutual system of psychological characteristics, and not individual traits, with reference to dietary behaviors, because psychological characteristics may appear stronger or weaker when combined
Summary
The state of epidemic threat was introduced in Poland in the middle of March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first case of SARS-CoV-2 infection was reported in Poland on the 4th of March. The state of epidemic threat was introduced between the. 14th and 20th of March, and the state of epidemic emergency was declared on the 20th of. March pursuant to a Regulation of the Minister of Health. All Polish universities closed down on the 12th of March. The movement of persons and access to public spaces were restricted. Tight restrictions which almost completely banned the use of public spaces remained in force until the 20th of April [1]
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