Exposure to social media during COVID-19 blockade may lead to emotional overeating via anxiety: the moderating role of neurotic tendencies

First published: July 15, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12291

Commentary

Several studies reported pandemic-induced urban blockades and changes in the eating behavior and appetite of residents.

However, few have investigated how neurotic tendencies interact with the effects of COVID-19 to influence eating behavior during an urban blockade.

This study aims to establish a pathway model to understand the interaction between social media exposure and adverse effects, neuroticism, and eating behavior during the COVID-19 lockdown.

We present data from 1,128 participants (Mage = 24.34 ± 10.48 years) who completed an online survey between February 17 and 27, 2020.

Respondents' exposure to social media, adverse effects, dietary behaviors, and degree of cravings for high-calorie foods were measured, as well as personality traits of city blockades and neuroticism tendencies.

The results showed that city blockade and house confinement had a negative impact on the eating behavior and appetite of the residents.

Forty-eight percent of the respondents exhibited moderate to constant emotional overeating, and the respondents' cravings for high-calorie foods increased significantly.

Correlation analysis showed that emotional overeating was positively associated with social media exposure, neuroticism, and anxiety.

A moderated mediation model was then established, showing that heavy exposure to social media can lead to emotional overeating via anxiety, and that the association between social media exposure and anxiety varies with the degree of neuroticism.