Dysfunctional Patterns of Food Intake by Anxiety during Isolation by COVID-19 in Chile, Colombia and Mexico

Int J Psychol Res (Medellin). 2021 Jan-Jun;14(1):48-54. doi: 10.21500/20112084.4721.

Abstract

The aim of this research was to compare food intake dysfunctional patterns score with the subjective perception of anxiety and sociodemographic characteristics of the participants in isolation by COVID-19 from Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. A cross-sectional research was carried out, with a virtual questionnaire of subjective perception of anxiety and the questionnaire of three 18-item feeding factors. 958 people of both sexes participated (F = 83%, M = 17%), mainly in the 18 to 35 age range. Dysfunctional eating patterns presented high scores in people who perceived anxiety, as well as in participants from Chile. Additionally, it was found that women present greater cognitive restriction and emotional intake, and college students showed greater disinhibition. In conclusion, the scores of the three dysfunctional eating patterns were higher in people with subjective perception of anxiety during social isolation due to COVID-19, and there were also differences according to country, sex, and educational level.

El objetivo de esta investigación fue comparar el puntaje de los patrones disfuncionales de la ingesta con la percepción subjetiva de la ansiedad y características sociodemográficas de los participantes en aislamiento por COVID-19 de Chile, Colombia y México. Se realizó una investigación de tipo transversal, con un cuestionario virtual de percepción subjetiva de la ansiedad y el cuestionario de tres factores de alimentación 18-items. Participaron 958 personas de ambos sexos (F = 83%, M = 17%), principalmente en el rango de edad de 18 35 años. Los patrones disfuncionales de la ingesta presentaron puntajes altos en personas que percibieron ansiedad y en participantes de Chile. Adicionalmente, se encontró que las mujeres presentan mayor restricción cognitiva e ingesta emocional y los estudiantes universitarios mostraron mayor desinhibición. En conclusión, los puntajes de los tres patrones disfuncionales de la ingesta fueron más altos en las personas con percepción subjetiva de ansiedad durante el aislamiento social por COVID-19 y así mismo se presentaron diferencias de acuerdo al país, sexo y nivel educativo.

Keywords: Anxiety; COVID-19; confinement; disinhibition; emotional eating; restriction.