Self-esteem, posture: how the pandemic has changed our relationship with the body

Self-esteem and the health crisis clearly do not mix. We already know that the global pandemic has had a strong impact on the mental health of the world’s population, but we are now learning that it has also participated in transforming the reflection we have of ourselves in a mirror. More than half of Americans (51%) say the pandemic has negatively impacted the way they view their bodies today, a study by OnePoll for Envy massage.

Will we have to relearn how to love each other once the health crisis is over? This is the question we can ask ourselves when reading this American survey. Almost half of those questioned (49%) say they have not regained the same level of self-confidence as before the arrival of Covid-19 in their daily lives, and 42% even confide that they do not feel in their place. in their body. Even more surprisingly, 40% of respondents admit that they have already failed to recognize their own reflection when passing in front of a mirror since the start of the health crisis.

The body could ultimately suffer from all the measures taken to stem the pandemic, starting with successive confinements and the generalization of teleworking. If you have managed to set up an optimal office area in your home sweet home, you are one of the lucky ones who did not adopt a bad posture while working directly from their sofa. Because these new ways could help to transform your silhouette. No less than 47% of Americans consider their bodies to be suffering in a new way since the start of the pandemic. A finding that could seem worrying if the respondents had not already decided to take matters into their own hands.

For a majority of Americans (67%), this will mean an improvement in their energy level. But many will tackle their back problems (44%) and posture (43%) as soon as possible. A minority (37%) even believe that a simple massage could help them regain self-confidence. Note, however, that 40% of respondents believe they need professional help to allow their body to perk up to regain its pre-pandemic shape.

This study was conducted by OnePoll for Massage Envy with 2,000 American consumers.