ArticleJournal of eating disorders2026
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating disorder symptoms and COVID-19-related stress.
Article in Journal of eating disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- COVID-19-Related Stress and Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa: Early Detection, Similar Illness Course.The International journal of eating disorders · 2026Article
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4 authors.
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Abstract
introductionThe coronavirus (COVID-19) has led to a worldwide pandemic with various consequences, such as heightened stress and an increase in the risk of developing psychological problems. The pandemic posed specific challenges for patients with eating disorders (ED), with worsening of ED symptoms as a possible consequence. This longitudinal prospective study investigated the associations between COVID-19-related stress and ED symptoms during periods of lockdown compared to reopening periods during the COVID-19 pandemic.
methodsOver a 2-year period, starting in August 2020, patients (N = 108) in specialized treatment for an ED completed monthly measurements of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and the COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI). Using mixed linear models, we investigated whether (1) ED symptoms were higher during lockdown periods compared to reopening periods, (2) COVID-19-related stress was higher during lockdown period when compared to reopening periods, (3) COVID-19-related stress was associated with higher levels of ED symptoms, and whether (4) COVID-19-related stress mediated the association between period (lockdown versus reopening) and ED symptoms.
resultsResults showed a significant negative total effect between period and ED symptoms, with ED symptoms being lower during the reopening periods compared to the lockdown periods. Secondly, during lockdown periods, patients experienced more COVID-19-related stress than during the reopening periods. Thirdly, there was a significant positive association between COVID-19-related stress and ED symptoms. Finally, results showed a significant negative direct effect of period on ED symptoms, where, controlling for COVID-19-related stress, patients experienced fewer ED symptoms during the reopening periods compared to the lockdown periods (partial mediation).
conclusionBoth COVID-19-related stress and ED symptoms were higher during lockdown than reopening periods, and greater COVID-19-related stress was associated with more severe ED symptoms. The mediation analysis showed that ED symptoms were higher during lockdown than during reopening periods, partly due to more COVID-19-related stress during lockdown periods.
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