IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i6p3026-d517442.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Impact of Social Isolation during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical and Mental Health: The Lived Experience of Adolescents with Obesity and Their Caregivers

Author

Listed:
  • Giada Pietrabissa

    (Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Psychology Research Laboratory, 20145, Milan, Italy
    Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, 20123 Milan, Italy)

  • Clarissa Volpi

    (Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Psychology Research Laboratory, 20145, Milan, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Michela Bottacchi

    (Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Psychology Research Laboratory, 20145, Milan, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Vanessa Bertuzzi

    (Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, 20123 Milan, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Anna Guerrini Usubini

    (Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Psychology Research Laboratory, 20145, Milan, Italy
    Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, 20123 Milan, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Henriette Löffler-Stastka

    (Department of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Tamara Prevendar

    (Psychology Study Programme, Sigmund Freud University Vienna—Ljubljana Branch, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia)

  • Giada Rapelli

    (Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Psychology Research Laboratory, 20145, Milan, Italy
    Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, 20123 Milan, Italy)

  • Roberto Cattivelli

    (Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Psychology Research Laboratory, 20145, Milan, Italy
    Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, 20123 Milan, Italy)

  • Gianluca Castelnuovo

    (Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Psychology Research Laboratory, 20145, Milan, Italy
    Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, 20123 Milan, Italy)

  • Enrico Molinari

    (Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Psychology Research Laboratory, 20145, Milan, Italy
    Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, 20123 Milan, Italy)

  • Alessandro Sartorio

    (Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Experimental Laboratory for Auxo-Endocrinological Research, 28824 Piancavallo (VB), Italy
    Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Division of Auxology, 28824 Piancavallo (VB), Italy)

Abstract

Adolescence is a complex developmental phase, made more complex by obesity and the social isolation imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The literature related to the impact of social isolation on obesity self-management in adolescents is scant and inconsistent. This paper describes the phenomenon from the perspectives of a sample of adolescents with obesity enrolled in an inpatients’ multidisciplinary rehabilitation program for weight-loss and their caregivers, and its impact on different life domains. Individual semi-structured ad hoc interviews were conducted with 10 adolescent-caregiver dyads, and narratives were qualitatively investigated using an interpretative phenomenology approach to data. Twenty participants took part in the study. The major themes that emerged from this study fall into five basic categories: (1) COVID-19 as an opportunity to reconsider what makes a good life; (2) Persistence in life; (3) Empowering relationship; (4) Daily routine in quarantine; (5) Lives on hold. Understandings drawn from this study may assist health care professionals in providing holistic support, and guidance to adolescents with weight-related issues and their caregivers who experience social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Giada Pietrabissa & Clarissa Volpi & Michela Bottacchi & Vanessa Bertuzzi & Anna Guerrini Usubini & Henriette Löffler-Stastka & Tamara Prevendar & Giada Rapelli & Roberto Cattivelli & Gianluca Casteln, 2021. "The Impact of Social Isolation during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical and Mental Health: The Lived Experience of Adolescents with Obesity and Their Caregivers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:3026-:d:517442
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/6/3026/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/6/3026/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Crossman, Ashley & Anne Sullivan, Deborah & Benin, Mary, 2006. "The family environment and American adolescents' risk of obesity as young adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(9), pages 2255-2267, November.
    2. Daniel W. Harrington & Jocelyn W. Jarvis & Heather Manson, 2017. "Parents’ Perceived Barriers to Accessing Sports and Recreation Facilities in Ontario, Canada: Exploring the Relationships between Income, Neighbourhood Deprivation, and Community," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Seung-Man Lee & Wi-Young So & Hyun-Su Youn, 2021. "Importance-Performance Analysis of Health Perception among Korean Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-10, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Anna Guerrini Usubini & Roberto Cattivelli & Vanessa Bertuzzi & Giorgia Varallo & Alessandro Alberto Rossi & Clarissa Volpi & Michela Bottacchi & Sofia Tamini & Alessandra De Col & Giada Pietrabissa &, 2021. "The ACTyourCHANGE in Teens Study Protocol: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Intervention for Adolescents with Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-12, June.
    2. Anna Guerrini Usubini & Roberto Cattivelli & Asia Radaelli & Michela Bottacchi & Giulia Landi & Eliana Tossani & Silvana Grandi & Gianluca Castelnuovo & Alessandro Sartorio, 2022. "Preliminary Results from the ACTyourCHANGE in Teens Protocol: A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Adolescents with Obesity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-13, May.
    3. Vanessa Bertuzzi & Michelle Semonella & Gianluca Castelnuovo & Gerhard Andersson & Giada Pietrabissa, 2022. "Synthesizing Stakeholders Perspectives on Online Psychological Interventions to Improve the Mental Health of the Italian Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Online Survey Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-13, June.
    4. Jung-In Yoo & Joung-Kyue Han & Hyun-Su Youn & Joo-Hyug Jung, 2021. "Comparison of Health Awareness in South Korean Middle School Students According to Type of Online Physical Education Classes during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-10, July.
    5. Seung-Man Lee & Jung-In Yoo & Hyun-Su Youn, 2021. "Changes in Alienation in Physical Education Classes, School Happiness, and Expectations of a Future Healthy Life after the COVID-19 Pandemic in Korean Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-11, October.
    6. Sara Raimondi & Giulio Cammarata & Giovanna Testa & Federica Bellerba & Federica Galli & Patrizia Gnagnarella & Maria Luisa Iannuzzo & Dorotea Ricci & Alessandro Sartorio & Clementina Sasso & Gabriell, 2022. "The Impact of Sport Activity Shut down during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults: Was It Worthwhile?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-12, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lee, Chioun & Ryff, Carol D., 2016. "Early parenthood as a link between childhood disadvantage and adult heart problems: A gender-based approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 58-66.
    2. Eui-Jae Lee & Dong-il Seo & Seung-Man Lee & Jong-Hyuck Kim, 2022. "Changes in Physical Fitness among Elementary and Middle School Students in Korea before and after COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-16, September.
    3. Jeong-Sil Choi & Se-Young Ju, 2022. "A Study of Food Safety Knowledge for Sustainable Foodservice Management of Childcare Centers in South Korea Using Importance–Performance Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, August.
    4. Oleksandr Zhylyevskyy & Helen H. Jensen & Steven B. Garasky & Carolyn E. Cutrona & Frederick X. Gibbons, 2013. "Effects of Family, Friends, and Relative Prices on Fruit and Vegetable Consumption by African Americans," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 80(1), pages 226-251, July.
    5. Bodea, Tudor D. & Garrow, Laurie A. & Meyer, Michael D. & Ross, Catherine L., 2009. "Socio-demographic and built environment influences on the odds of being overweight or obese: The Atlanta experience," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 43(4), pages 430-444, May.
    6. Hilary A. T. Caldwell & Joshua Yusuf & Mike Arthur & Camille L. Hancock Friesen & Sara F. L. Kirk, 2022. "Play-Friendly Communities in Nova Scotia, Canada: A Content Analysis of Physical Activity and Active Transportation Strategies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-11, March.
    7. Price, Joseph & Swigert, Jeffrey, 2012. "Within-family variation in obesity," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 10(4), pages 333-339.
    8. Tudor Bodea & Laurie Garrow & Michael Meyer & Catherine Ross, 2008. "Explaining obesity with urban form: a cautionary tale," Transportation, Springer, vol. 35(2), pages 179-199, March.
    9. Sun, Yu & You, Wen, 2016. "Relative-deprivation effects on child health in China," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235926, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    10. Jorge Rojo-Ramos & Santiago Gomez-Paniagua & Jose Carmelo Adsuar & Maria Mendoza-Muñoz & Antonio Castillo-Paredes & Angel Denche-Zamorano & Miguel Angel Garcia-Gordillo & Sabina Barrios-Fernandez, 2023. "Attitudes towards Peers with Disabilities among Schoolchildren in Physical Education Classes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-11, February.
    11. Ewa Kruszyńska & Joanna Poczta, 2020. "Difficulties Limiting Access to Sports and Recreational Facilities in the City in the Perceptions of Service Users. Sports and Recreational Infrastructure Management Policy—Poznan Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-20, March.
    12. Katherine E. McManus & Adrian Bertrand & Anastasia M. Snelling & Elizabeth W. Cotter, 2021. "In Their Own Words: Parents and Key Informants’ Views on Nutrition Education and Family Health Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-15, August.
    13. Seung-Man Lee & Eui-Jae Lee & Wi-Young So & Jong-Hyuck Kim, 2022. "Factor Structure of the Korean Version of the Occupational Socialization of Beginning Physical Education Teachers Scale in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Relationship with Health Percept," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-14, June.
    14. Kolodinsky, Jane M. & Castle, Jeffrey, 2014. "Mother/Child Eating and Drinking Patterns by Weight and Ethnicity," 2014 Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2014, Minneapolis, Minnesota 169803, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    15. Jung-In Yoo & Joung-Kyue Han & Hyun-Su Youn & Joo-Hyug Jung, 2021. "Comparison of Health Awareness in South Korean Middle School Students According to Type of Online Physical Education Classes during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-10, July.
    16. Seung-Man Lee & Jung-In Yoo & Hyun-Su Youn, 2021. "Changes in Alienation in Physical Education Classes, School Happiness, and Expectations of a Future Healthy Life after the COVID-19 Pandemic in Korean Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-11, October.
    17. José Andrade & Joan Gil, 2023. "Maternal Employment and Child Malnutrition in Ecuador," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(13), pages 1-25, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:3026-:d:517442. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.