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The COMET study: Examining the effects of COVID-19-related perceived stress on Los Angeles Mothers' dysregulated eating behaviors, child feeding practices, and body mass index.
Wang, Shirlene D; Devjani, Shivali; Chillakanti, Mahima; Dunton, Genevieve F; Mason, Tyler B.
  • Wang SD; Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA. Electronic address: shirlenw@usc.edu.
  • Devjani S; SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, USA.
  • Chillakanti M; Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA.
  • Dunton GF; Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA; Department of Psychology, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, University of Southern California, USA.
  • Mason TB; Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA.
Appetite ; 163: 105209, 2021 08 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1135250
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions and mandates have had pronounced implications on the well-being of individuals. This study conducted exploratory analyses of the relationship between COVID-19-related life changes and COVID-19-related perceived stress and associations between COVID-19-related perceived stress and dysregulated maternal eating behaviors, child feeding practices, and body mass index (BMI) in Los Angeles mothers. Mothers (Mage = 37.6 ± 6.9) of children aged 5-11 (N = 197, response rate 92.5%) completed an online questionnaire assessing COVID-19-related life changes, COVID-19-related perceived stress, mechanisms used to cope with COVID-19, child feeding practices, their own eating behavior, demographics, and height and weight. The highest proportion of participants reported changes to work, disruptions due to childcare challenges, and increased home responsibilities. Higher COVID-19-related perceived stress was experienced by those who reported loss of work hours (29%), loss of job (15.2%), reduced ability to afford childcare (18.8%), and reduced ability to afford rent/mortgage (19.8%) (ps < 0.05) than those who did not. The most common strategy that mothers indicated using to cope with COVID-19 related stress was eating comfort foods (e.g., candy and chips) (58.7%). COVID-19-related perceived stress was positively associated with mother's BMI and emotional eating (ps < 0.05). Rewarding their child's eating and behavior with food were both positively associated with the number of COVID-19 related life changes (ps < 0.05). This study yields new knowledge of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mothers' dysregulated eating behaviors and child feeding practices. The results highlight the importance of conducting further research to confirm these findings and understand the nature of associations between COVID-19-related perceived stress and health. This is crucial in order to explore ways in which lasting impacts of the pandemic on mental and physical health can be prevented.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 / Mothers Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Child / Female / Humans Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Appetite Year: 2021 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 / Mothers Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Child / Female / Humans Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Appetite Year: 2021 Document Type: Article