z-logo
Premium
Eating disorder pathology and compulsive exercise during the COVID ‐19 public health emergency: Examining risk associated with COVID ‐19 anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty
Author(s) -
Scharmer Christina,
Martinez Kimberly,
Gorrell Sasha,
Reilly Erin E.,
Donahue Joseph M.,
Anderson Drew A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.23395
Subject(s) - covid-19 , anxiety , psychology , pandemic , public health , psychiatry , medicine , clinical psychology , disease , virology , pathology , outbreak , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Objective COVID‐19 has led to disruptions in daily living and increased uncertainty about physical, financial, social, and psychological consequences, which may contribute to anxiety, eating disorder (ED) pathology, and compulsive exercise. Individual factors, such as intolerance of uncertainty, may impact risk for ED pathology and CE in response to COVID‐19 anxiety. The current study examined associations between COVID‐19 anxiety, trait intolerance of uncertainty, and COVID‐19 intolerance of uncertainty and ED pathology and compulsive exercise. Method Undergraduate participants ( N = 295) completed a series of online questionnaires between March and April of 2020. Results COVID‐19 anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty were associated with ED pathology, but not compulsive exercise. Additionally, both trait and COVID‐19 intolerance of uncertainty moderated associations between COVID‐19 anxiety and compulsive exercise and ED pathology. COVID‐19 anxiety was more strongly related to compulsive exercise and ED pathology for individuals with lower intolerance of uncertainty. Discussion COVID‐19 anxiety may increase risk for ED pathology and may be specifically important in determining risk for ED pathology and compulsive exercise among individuals with lower intolerance of uncertainty. These results contribute to a growing body of research aimed at understanding the mental health consequences of the COVID‐19 and suggest that individual factors (e.g., anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty) are important in determining risk for ED pathology and compulsive exercise in the context of the pandemic.

This content is not available in your region!

Continue researching here.

Having issues? You can contact us here