The multifaceted interplay between COVID-19-induced psychological stress, cognitive flexibility, emotional overeating, and physical activity patterns in adult women: a mediated path analysis

Abstract Objective To determine how COVID-19-related stress influences food consumption and emotional overeating in adult women, and whether cognitive flexibility and physical activity mediate these relationships. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 303 women (20–50 y) completed validated Persian versions of the COVID Stress Scale-18, Adult Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, Self-Regulation of Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, Cognitive Flexibility Scale, and Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity. Data were collected online via the ISO-27001-certified “Press Line” platform (end-to-end encryption). Chi-square tests and Spearman’s rank correlations were performed in SPSS 19 ( α = 0.05). Results COVID-19 stress was strongly inversely associated with cognitive flexibility ( rₛ = – 0.91, p < 0.001) and moderately inversely associated with physical activity ( rₛ = – 0.46, p = 0.005). No direct associations were found with emotional overeating or eating self-regulation ( p > 0.10). Sixteen per cent of participants reported clinically elevated stress. Conclusions Pandemic-related stress did not directly predict emotional overeating but substantially reduced cognitive flexibility and physical activity. Interventions that train cognitive flexibility alongside graded activity may buffer women against prolonged COVID-19 stress.