ABSTRACT
Background: The literature has been showing evidence about the impact of restrictive measures during the COVID-19 pandemic on different psychological variables and behaviours. This study aims to assess the contribution of anxiety about appearance on the practice of physical exercise and use of image-and performance-enhancing drugs (IPEDs) during the COVID-19 lockdown. Method: An online survey was carried out comprising the Exercise Addiction Inventory, and the Appearance Anxiety Inventory in addition to questions on the use of IPEDs. Results: The sample consisted of 3.161 (65% female) adults from seven countries (Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom [UK], Lithuania, Portugal, Japan and Hungary). Mean age was 35.05 years (SD = 12.10). Overall, 4.3% of the participants were found to engage in excessive or problematic exercise during the COVID-19 lockdown with peaks registered in the UK and Spain. Participants across all countries also reported the use of drugs and medicines to boost image and performance, and this use was maintained or started during the lockdown. Significant appearance anxiety levels were found across the sample. Logistic regression models revealed that anxiety about appearance was a non-significant predictor of engaging in physical exercise but increased the probability of using IPEDs significantly. This was despite the strong association found between physical exercise and IPEDs use. Conclusions: This study identified risks of appearance anxiety associated with the unsupervised use of IPEDs among the general population during the COVID-19 lockdown period across all the participating countries. The risks of appearance anxiety associated with excessive physical exercising were non-significant.
ABSTRACT
Severe restrictive measures were implemented globally to limit the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic leading to significant lifestyle changes and impacting on both the physical and the mental health of citizens. Caught by the fear of getting sick, some individuals have adopted behaviors which favored the development of Exercise Addiction (EA). Our aim was to evaluate the incidence of EA in the general Italian population during Phase 1 of the lockdown, and the role of Appearance Anxiety (AA), self-compassion and use of Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs (PIEDs) as predictors of its development. Between April to May 2020 an online survey was conducted across Italy. The rate of EA in the full sample (953 subjects) was 3.6%. 84.2% of the participants reported variations in their fitness routine. Perceived benefit of exercising resulted significantly higher in those with EA. Subjects with EA reported stronger motivation in engaging in physical activity as for physical wellness, psychological wellbeing and sexual attractiveness and confidence in relationship. A higher level of AA, a lower level of self-compassion, the use of PIEDs and a higher perceived benefit of exercising during lockdown were all significant predictors for the presence of EA. Our findings suggest that the fear of getting sick from Covid-19, combined with radical changes in the lifestyles induced by the lockdown and individual personological characteristics can favor the development of AE and related phenomena in the general population.
ABSTRACT
Background: Experts in the field raised concerns about the rise of the Problematic Usage of the Internet (PUI) during the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), however, specific online behaviours and how they are presented cross-culturally were explored to a lesser extent. In this study, we aimed to explore the cross-cultural manifestation of specific online behaviours and their associations with self-compassion, appearance anxiety, image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs) use, and specific online behaviours. Methods: An international survey was conducted in eight countries including Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, Japan, United Kingdom, Brazil and Hungary comprising in total 2223 individuals with a mean age of 33±11 years old. Participants were surveyed for specific type of Internet use severity (the Internet Activities Scale from the Internet Severity and Activities Addiction Questionnaire), selfcompassion (the Self-Compassion Scale, SCS), appearance anxiety (the Appearance Anxiety Inventory, AAI), and IPEDs use. Results: After adjustment for demographic factors, hours online, and country, self-compassion remained associated with higher levels of skill games and time wasters (β=-.073;p<.002), streaming (β=-.053;p=.018), digital hoarding (β=-.065;p=.006) and cyberchondria (β=-.153;p<.001). Appearance was associated with general surfing (β=.136;p<.001), online shopping (β=.137;p<.001), online gambling (β=.067;p=.003), social networking (β=.131;p<.001), pornography use (β=.102;p<.001), digital hoarding (β=.079;p<.001) and cyberchondria (β=.120;p<.001). IPEDs use also remained associated with various online behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic Conclusions: Our exploratory study demonstrates that self-compassion, appearance anxiety, and IPEDS use contribute to various forms of PUI.
ABSTRACT
IntroductionThe Coronavirus pandemic has originated unprecedented sanitary control measures that have conditioned people’s lifestyles and habits. Little is known about the impact of such measures, especially the most restrictive, on recent and growing phenomena such as exercise addiction, use of enhancement drugs, and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).ObjectivesThe objective was to investigate the above-mentioned phenomena during COVID-19 pandemic and how they relate.MethodsThe sample consisted of 3161 participants (65% women), from Portugal (11%), Italy (41%), Spain (16%), the UK (12%), Lithuania (12%), Japan (6%), and Hungary (4%). Mean age was 35.05 (SD = 12.10). Participants responded online to the Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI), the Appearance Anxiety Inventory (AAI), and questions about use of enhancement drugs.Results4.3% of the participants scored above the cut-off point of the EAI, with higher values registered in the UK and Spain. Exercise addiction was higher among men. Appearance anxiety and body satisfaction problems were found in participants of all participating countries, with 15.2% scoring over the cut-off point for BDD. Higher numbers of those at risk of BDD were found in Italy, Japan, and Portugal. About 29% reported the use of fitness supplements to make them look better, with 6.4% starting a new use during the lockdown. Change in supplements use and exercise are predicted by EAI scores. Change in mental health is predicted by AAI scores.ConclusionsThis study helps to shed light on how COVID-19 lookdown induced behavioral changes and how they affect physical and mental health-related aspects in different countries.