TY - JOUR
T1 - Mental Health After COVID-19 Death-Related Loss in Individuals With Eating Disorders
T2 - A Multi-Country Nested Matched Case-Control Study
AU - Costello, Kayla
AU - Birgegard, Andreas
AU - Borg, Stina
AU - Thornton, Laura M.
AU - Thompson, Katherine A.
AU - Hedlund, Elin
AU - Peat, Christine M.
AU - Goode, Rachel W.
AU - Termorshuizen, Jet D.
AU - Mantilla, Emma Forsen
AU - van Furth, Eric F.
AU - Bulik, Cynthia M.
AU - Watson, Hunna J.
PY - 2024/12/6
Y1 - 2024/12/6
N2 - 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 pre-existing 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.
AB - 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 pre-existing 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.
KW - Covid-19
KW - Anxiety
KW - Bereavement
KW - Coronavirus
KW - Death
KW - Eating disorders
KW - Grief
KW - Longitudinal
KW - Loss
KW - Pandemic
UR - https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=uwapure5-25&SrcAuth=WosAPI&KeyUT=WOS:001370899800001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL
U2 - 10.1002/eat.24347
DO - 10.1002/eat.24347
M3 - Article
C2 - 39641428
SN - 0276-3478
JO - International Journal of Eating Disorders
JF - International Journal of Eating Disorders
ER -