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Investigating Functioning Profile of Adolescents with Anorexia before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study on Mentalizing, Alexithymia, and Impulsiveness

Author

Listed:
  • Fabiola Bizzi

    (Department of Educational Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso A. Podestà 2, 16121 Genoa, Italy)

  • Anna Riva

    (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Department, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy)

  • Simone Charpentier Mora

    (Department of Educational Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso A. Podestà 2, 16121 Genoa, Italy)

  • Marta Tironi

    (Department of Educational Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso A. Podestà 2, 16121 Genoa, Italy)

  • Sofia Elena Sforza

    (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Department, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy
    School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy)

  • Lorenzo Maria Milani

    (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Department, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy)

  • Renata Nacinovich

    (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Department, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy
    NeuroMI—Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

Anorexia nervosa (AN) usually emerges in adolescence when important changes occur in cognitive, emotional, and social processes. Mentalizing, alexithymia, and impulsiveness represent key dimensions for the understanding and interpretation of psychological difficulties in AN. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted adolescents with AN, showing a worsening of the disease. The main aims of the present paper are (1) to compare adolescents with AN before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) to explore the relationship between mentalizing, alexithymia, impulsiveness, and psychological difficulties related to eating disorders in adolescents with AN during the COVID-19 pandemic. One hundred and ninety-six AN female adolescents (N = 94 before COVID-19; N = 102 during COVID-19) participated in this study. The results show that adolescents with AN during the COVID-19 pandemic had a more impaired functioning profile than the before COVID-19 group. Mentalizing, alexithymia, and impulsiveness had a predictive role on psychological difficulties related to eating disorders in adolescents with AN during the COVID-19 pandemic. In conclusion, our data reveal that the COVID-19 pandemic has likely represented a stress condition that affects mental health; worsening the severity of adolescents with AN clinical condition. Lastly, predictive patterns suggest the existence of a link between difficulties in the ability to face the problems of the present time using effective strategies and the severity of psychological symptoms.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabiola Bizzi & Anna Riva & Simone Charpentier Mora & Marta Tironi & Sofia Elena Sforza & Lorenzo Maria Milani & Renata Nacinovich, 2023. "Investigating Functioning Profile of Adolescents with Anorexia before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study on Mentalizing, Alexithymia, and Impulsiveness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:3670-:d:1073309
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Palmiero Monteleone, 2021. "Eating Disorders in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic: What Have We Learned?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-4, November.
    2. Elizabeth A. K. Jones & Amal K. Mitra & Azad R. Bhuiyan, 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health in Adolescents: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-9, March.
    3. Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez & Marina Begoña Martínez-González & Juan Camilo Benitez-Agudelo & Eduardo Navarro-Jiménez & Ana Isabel Beltran-Velasco & Pablo Ruisoto & Esperanza Diaz Arroyo & Carmen C, 2021. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Disorders. A Critical Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-25, September.
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