Psychosocial Factors, Technology Use, and Disordered Eating in College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The current cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the effects of psychosocial factors and technology use on disordered eating in college students (aged 18 to 23 years) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. An online survey was distributed between February and April 2021. Participants completed questionnaires on eating disorder behaviors and cognitions, depressive symptoms, anxiety, impacts of the pandemic across personal and social domains, social media use, and screen time. Of all participants ( N = 202), 40.1% of students reported moderate or greater depressive symptoms and 34.7% endorsed moderate or greater anxiety symptoms. Higher depressive symptoms were associated with increased odds of bulimia nervosa (BN) ( p = 0.03) and binge eating disorder ( p = 0.02). People with higher COVID-19 infection scores were at increased odds of reporting BN ( p = 0.01). Mood disturbances and COVID-19 infection history were associated with increased eating disorder psychopathology in college students during the pandemic. [ Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 61 (10), 29–38.]