Psychological distress and internet-related behaviors between schoolchildren with and without overweight during the COVID-19 outbreak

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and its resulting social policy changes may result in psychological distress among schoolchildren with overweight. This study thus aimed to (1) compare psychological distress (including fear of COVID-19 infection, stress, anxiety, and depressio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International Journal of Obesity Vol. 45; no. 3; pp. 677 - 686
Main Authors: Chen, Chao-Ying, Chen, I-Hua, O'Brien, Kerry S, Latner, Janet D, Lin, Chung-Ying
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England Nature Publishing Group 01.03.2021
Subjects:
Adolescent
Anxiety
Body weight
Child
China - epidemiology
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Cross-Sectional Studies
Digital media
Fear
Female
Humans
Infections
Internet
Internet Use - statistics & numerical data
Male
Mental depression
Mental health
Overweight
Overweight - epidemiology
Overweight - psychology
Pandemics
Psychological Distress
Psychological stress
Regression analysis
Regression models
Smartphones
Social networks
Social policy
Stigma
Stress
Stress, Psychological - epidemiology
Students - psychology
Students - statistics & numerical data
Viral diseases
China
ISSN:0307-0565, 1476-5497, 1476-5497
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and its resulting social policy changes may result in psychological distress among schoolchildren with overweight. This study thus aimed to (1) compare psychological distress (including fear of COVID-19 infection, stress, anxiety, and depression), perceived weight stigma, and problematic internet-related behaviors between schoolchildren with and without overweight; (2) assess whether perceived weight stigma and problematic internet-related behaviors explained psychological distress. Schoolchildren (n = 1357; mean age = 10.7 years) with overweight (n = 236) and without overweight (n = 1121) completed an online survey assessing their fear of COVID-19 infection, stress, anxiety, depression, perceived weight stigma, problematic smartphone application use, problematic social media use, and problematic gaming. Schoolchildren with overweight had significantly higher levels of COVID-19 infection fear, stress, depression, perceived weight stigma, and problematic social media use than those without overweight. Regression models showed that perceived weight stigma and problematic internet-related behaviors were significant predictors of psychological distress among schoolchildren with overweight. Strategies to manage perceived weight stigma and problematic internet-related behaviors may have a positive influence on mental health among schoolchildren with overweight under health-threatening circumstances, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic.
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ISSN:0307-0565
1476-5497
1476-5497
DOI:10.1038/s41366-021-00741-5