he impact of COVID-19 on negative body image: Evidence based on social media data

Objective:&nbsp;Body experiences and conditions are closely relevant to social development and human well-being. However, there is no consensus on the impact of COVID-19 on negative body image in previous studies.<br />Methods: To investigate the true relationship&nbsp;between COVID-19 and negative body image, this study has developed a dictionary of negative body image to obtain panel data on body image for 31 Chinese provinces/municipalities/autonomous regions from January 2010 to May 2022. We have compared negative body image in different years before and after the pandemic and explored the impact of pandemic severity on negative body image.<br />Results: The prevalence of negative body image significantly decreased following the outbreak and remained at a relatively low level for two years. After controlling for regional and temporal effects, epidemic severity was found to be a significant predictor of the decline in negative body image.<br />Limitations: The applicability of the negative body image dictionary beyond Chinese contexts and its efficacy in other countries or regions require further investigation.<br />Conclusions: The study suggests that the public is likely to adopt certain physical appearances during lockdown due to their fear of mortality and changes in lifestyle. This research has significant implications for comprehending the dynamic transformation of public body image under the influence of catastrophic public health events.<br />&nbsp;