Family functioning and eating psychopathology in developmental restrictive eating disorders after Covid-19 lockdown

• DOI: 10.1007/s40519-025-01749-w
• Publication Date: 2025-04-19T09:51:20Z
• Authors: C. Marchetto; M. Criscuolo; I. Croci; M. E. Bucci; A. Caramadre; M. C. Castiglioni; S. Vicari; V. Zanna
• Keywords: 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak

While the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns on family dynamics and eating behaviors has been widely studied, there is limited conflicting evidence regarding families children adolescents with restrictive disorders (EDs). This study examines differences in psychopathology perceptions functioning pediatric patients anorexia nervosa (AN; atypical) avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) before after pandemic. A total 640 EDs their parents, assessed from January 2018 to December 2022, were grouped into pre-Covid-19, Covid-19, post-Covid-19 periods. Measures included Family Assessment Device, Eating Disorders Inventory-III, Questionnaire Childhood. Data analyzed using ANOVA (p < .05). Children AN showed greater difficulties compared ARFID both psychopathology. In particular, COVID-19 group exhibited higher scores Affective Mood Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Pica, Selective pre-Covid-19 group. Adolescents reported worse Post-COVID-19 others. Patients show more dysfunctional pandemic preceding periods but results varied by age diagnosis. These findings highlight need for diagnosis-specific, tailored interventions address evolving clinical ED populations. Level V Evidence obtained a cross-sectional descriptive study.