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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.
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Symposium summary: The current COVID-19 pandemic has been affecting the body image of individuals as well as their practice of physical exercise and their consumption of image-and performance-enhancing drugs (IPEDs) in an attempt to boost their appearance. This symposium will present the results of various cross-sectional studies that are part of an overarching global project aimed to study fitness habits during the COVID-19 lockdown which was carried out in eight countries (UK, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Lithuania, Brazil, and Japan). These studies focus on: (1) Assessing the perception of body image during self-isolation;(2) Exploring the practice of exercising and related habits during self-isolation (e.g., using fitness apps or spending more time in social media);(3) Understanding whether exercise can help to cope with self-isolation;and (4) Exploring any potential use of IPEDs during self-isolation as a way to boost physical appearance. Findings have contributed to a better understanding of the effects of self-isolation on body image and the identification of related risky behaviours in the attempt to boost physical appearance, while contributing to the development of practices targeting mental and physical wellbeing in challenging times for humanity.
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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.
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IntroductionWeb-based tools allowed the provision of psychological counseling and therapy at-distance during the COVID-19 lockdown. Nevertheless, psychologists’ attitudes towards the adoption of these tools and its impact in their professional practices need to be further explored.ObjectivesThe objective was to study the use of web-based tools on psychological practices before and during COVID-19 lockdown, trying to identify changes on psychologists’ professional practices related to the pandemic, as well as to explore factors that could have affected such changes.MethodsOne-hundred and eight psychologists filled-in an online survey, developed for the purposes of this study, during mandatory lockdown. The study was disseminated by mailing list, social networks, and by the Portuguese Psychologists Association.ResultsThe results have shown that psychologists kept providing their services during lockdown thanks to the adoption of web-based tools. Although psychologists have recognized that additional precautions were needed for at-distance practice in comparison to in-person interventions, the experience of using IC technologies in clinical practice was described as positive, ensuring clients’ adherence with positive results. Additionally, despite psychological services were maintained on a larger scale by psychologists with more years of experience, professionals with average experience stated more favorable attitudes towards the use of web-based tools in counseling and therapy.ConclusionsAlthough the implementation of ICT based practice was enforced by current circumstances, the experience that psychologists gathered and shared during the lockdown can guide future professional practice, improving and fostering the replication of best practices at distance.
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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.