Introduction
Diabetes is one of the leading health concerns in modern society. This is due not only to the physical consequences for the well-being of patients but also to psychological consequences. Conducting research in this area helps to understand how such science as psychology can help patients in the fight against this disease. A paper by Troncone et al. (2020) titled “Disordered eating behaviors in youths with type 1 diabetes during COVID-19 lockdown: an exploratory study” was selected for this research paper.”
Analysis of Psychological Research on Diabetes
Aim and Importance
The selected psychological study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of disordered eating behaviors (DEB) in young people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The main aim of this study is “to analyze the relationship between DEBs and sociodemographic, anthropometric, and clinical diabetes-related factors” (Troncone et al., 2020, p. 3). This scientific work is essential because it focuses on how the need to be in lockdown affects the eating behavior of young people, for whom it is essential to adhere to a particular lifestyle. Moreover, people suffering from T1D are at risk of psychological diseases, among which are anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.
Methodology
The next step is to pay attention to the methodology chosen for this psychological study. The authors conducted a cross-sectional study involving 138 people aged 8 to 19 years with type 1 diabetes and “276 age- and gender-matched healthy peers” (Troncone et al., 2020, p. 1). A critically important part was obtaining informed consent from parents to participate in the experiment, which is necessary for compliance with ethical standards. Then, sociodemographic and clinical data of patients and weight status were obtained, and the Eating Attitudes Test-26 and Cronbach’s alpha and Chi-square testing were conducted to obtain statistical data.
Findings
It is noted that this study was the first to assess the psychological effects of lockdown on young people with T1D. The work results showed that “T1D youths/controls do not indicate a significant difference in the occurrence of DEBs” (Troncone et al., 2020, p. 8). Moreover, they contradict the generally accepted opinion that lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic hurt the psychological state of individuals and caused mental disorders, including DEB. At the same time, the authors note that despite the effectiveness of the methods used to obtain results, the Eating Attitudes Test-26 has no direct purpose for the study of patients with DEB. Another important aspect is the parental influence on children’s eating behavior during lockdown. Thus, it is assumed that parents prevent their children from consuming junk food and encourage weight control practices.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the value of the study by Troncone et al. was to study the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on the development of disordered eating behaviors in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. The main implication of the study is to draw attention to the need for constant medical and psychological care for these kinds of patients. The period of growing up is critical, caused by essential stages of development. Even though the researchers did not show a direct effect of lockdown on the eating behavior of individuals, they pointed out that these circumstances cause troubling circumstances imposed by quarantine. Therefore, the study chosen for this work is a valuable contribution to the psychological study of diabetes and ways to mitigate its progression.
Reference
Troncone, A., Chianese, A., Zanfardino, A., Cascella, C., Piscopo, A., Borriello, A., Rollato, S., Casaburo, F., Testa, V. & Iafusco, D. (2020). Disordered eating behaviors in youths with type 1 diabetes during COVID-19 lockdown: an exploratory study. Journal of Eating Disorders, 8(1), 1-12. Web.