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. 2021 Mar;45(3):677-686.
doi: 10.1038/s41366-021-00741-5. Epub 2021 Jan 25.

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

Chao-Ying Chen  1   2 , I-Hua Chen  3 , Kerry S O'Brien  4 , Janet D Latner  5 , Chung-Ying Lin  6   7
Affiliations

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

Chao-Ying Chen et al. Int J Obes (Lond). 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: 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.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusion: 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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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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