Coping during Covid-19

The Impact of Cognitive Appraisal on Problem Orientation, Coping Behaviors, Body Image, and Perceptions of Eating Behaviors and Physical Activity during the Pandemic

Bibliographic Data

ID15512612
AuthorsElisha Starick (0009-0004-4864-7628, Toronto Metropolitan University), Vanessa Montemarano (0000-0002-4428-3220, Toronto Metropolitan University), Stephanie E Cassin (0000-0003-4930-4681, Toronto Metropolitan University, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue21
Pages11305-11305
Publication date2021-10-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph182111305
PMID34769822
OpenAlexW3209707216
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited22

Large surveys indicate that many people perceive that their health behaviors (i.e., eating behaviors, physical activity, and self-care routines) and body image have changed during COVID-19; however, large individual variation exists. A person's cognitive appraisal of COVID-19 disruptions may help account for individual differences. Those with a negative problem orientation perceive problems as "threats", whereas those with a positive problem orientation reframe problems as "opportunities". The present experimental study examined the impact of appraisals, specifically being prompted to reflect on the changes in health routines precipitated by COVID-19 restrictions as either "threats" or "opportunities", on problem orientation, coping behaviours, body image, and perceptions of eating behaviors and physical activity in a sample of female undergraduate students ( N = 363). The group that reflected on challenges/barriers reported having a more negative problem orientation, being more negatively impacted by COVID-19, engaging in more maladaptive coping behaviors, and having less positive body image compared to participants who reflected on opportunities presented during the pandemic. Findings suggest that appraisals and problem orientation are malleable, and that people who tend to fixate on the challenges associated with COVID-19 may benefit from strategically reflecting on their own resilience and new opportunities that have arisen for engaging in health behaviors

Cognition · Cognitive appraisal · Cognitive reframing · Coping (psychology · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Developmental psychology · Disease · Orientation (vector space · Pandemic · Perception · Psychiatry · Psychological resilience · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Emotional Intelligence and Performance · Medicine · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social Psychology

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