# The interactive roles between coping tendency and focus on COVID-19 information time in Adolescent Obesity

## TL;DR

Adolescents with positive coping styles and less focus on pandemic news are less likely to be obese.

## Contribution

Identifies an interaction between coping tendency and pandemic information focus in influencing adolescent obesity.

## Key findings

- Obese adolescents scored lower on positive coping styles.
- Spending over three hours on pandemic news increased obesity rates.
- Positive coping and less pandemic focus together reduce obesity risk.

## Abstract

This study examined the relationship between adolescents’ coping tendency, the focus on COVID-19 information time, and adolescent obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A prevalence survey of 13,374 students from 13 secondary schools in Tianjin was conducted between April and June 2022 using convenience cluster sampling. Basic information on the adolescents’ heights, weights, and psychological health conditions was collected using a general information questionnaire and a coping style questionnaire.

Obese adolescents scored significantly lower on positive coping styles. In addition, adolescents who spent more than three hours on COVID-19 information had a significantly higher rate of obesity than the other groups. The findings of the regression analysis indicate that a positive coping style (0.980, 0.974–0.986) functions as a protective factor, while the amount of time spent on COVID-19 information (1.140, 1.088–1.195) serves as a risk factor. The findings indicate that the interaction between positive coping tendency and less time focus on COVID-19 information significantly influences adolescent obesity (0.923, 0.904–0.942).

Increased daily time spent with COVID-19 information was associated with a higher incidence of adolescent obesity. Positive coping styles have been observed to reduce the incidence of obesity in adolescents. Positive coping tendency and less time focus on COVID-19 information can mutually reinforce the reduction in adolescent obesity. In developing interventions for adolescent obesity during periods of chronic crisis, authorities must focus on enhancing adolescents’ coping mechanisms and reducing the amount of time spent focusing on crises.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40359-025-03766-x.