COVID-19-Related Distress, Body Image, and Eating Behaviors: A Cross-sectional Explanatory Model

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with increased body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors in adolescents. To better understand these associations, this study tested an explanatory model in which appearance-focused social media use, internalisation of social media pressure, and mindfulness abilities mediated the relationship between COVID-related distress and body dissatisfaction, which in turn was associated with dietary restraint and binge eating episodes. Methods: Adolescents (N =498, Mage= 16.7, 47.2% girls) recruited within high schools completed online measures. Results: A final well-adjusted model was revealed using path analyses, confirming the proposed mediational effects. Conclusions: Findings suggest that mindfulness, media use and the internalisation of social media pressure are potential key processes explaining body dissatisfaction and eating disorders among adolescents who experienced higher level of COVID-related distress.