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Mental Health After COVID ‐19 Death‐Related Loss in Individuals With Eating Disorders: A Multi‐Country Nested Matched Case–Control Study

Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic caused millions of deaths worldwide and significantly impacted people with eating disorders, exacerbating symptoms and limiting access to care. This study examined the association between COVID-19 death-related loss-defined as the death of a family member, friend, or acquaintance due to COVID-19-and mental health among people with preexisting eating disorders in the United States (US), the Netherlands, and Sweden. METHOD: Participants with a history of eating disorders completed a baseline survey early in the pandemic (US: N = 511; Netherlands: N = 510; Sweden: N = 982) and monthly (US, the Netherlands) or biannual (Sweden) follow-ups from April 2020 to May 2021. The surveys assessed pandemic impact on eating disorder-related behaviors and concerns, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and COVID-19-related deaths. A matched nested case-control design was used to compare individuals experiencing a death-related loss with matched controls. RESULTS: A substantial proportion experienced a COVID-19 death-related loss (US: 33%; Netherlands: 39%; Sweden: 17%). No significant differences were found between cases and controls on eating disorder, anxiety, depression, or sleep outcomes. DISCUSSION: Despite the expected influence of COVID-19 death-related loss on mental health, our study found no significant association. Reactions to pandemics may be highly individual, and practitioners may want to consider broader losses-such as bereavement, missed educational experiences, relationship disruptions, financial instability, and employment challenges-when addressing patients' needs. Future research should continue to explore how death-related loss impacts eating disorder risk and progression.
DOI: 10.1002/eat.24347
Authors: Kayla Costello, Andreas Birgegård, Stina Borg, Laura M. Thornton, Katherine A. Thompson, Elin Hedlund, Christine M. Peat, Rachel W. Goode, Jet D. Termorshuizen, Emma Forsén Mantilla, Eric F. van Furth, Cynthia M. Bulik, Hunna J. Watson
Institutions: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, State University of New York, University at Albany, State University of New York, Karolinska Institutet, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, GGZ Rivierduinen, Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, The University of Western Australia, Curtin University
Language: English
Field: Psychology
Open Access status: green
Funders: Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, Vetenskapsrådet, National Institutes of Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Awards: G1375331873, Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative (EDGI), G303339423, G4670273794, G5012122282, Eating Disorders Information and Training Network (EDIT-NET): Leveraging Innovative Technology to Educate and Train the Next Generation of Healthcare Providers and Public Stakeholders, Predicting the multi-omic impact of psychiatric GWAS associations, Developing a Culturally-Relevant Digital Health Intervention to Treat Binge Eating and Obesity, 1/7 PGC: Advancing Discovery and Impact
OpenAlex ID: W4405111585
FWCI:
Cites: 43
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Related to: 10