Five years on: ontological (in)security and living with significant appearance concerns before, during, and ‘since’ COVID-19

Mahoney, Berenice ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7414-8185, Edwards, Christian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4170-6475, Richardson, Emma ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7409-778X and Lowe, Rebecca (2025) Five years on: ontological (in)security and living with significant appearance concerns before, during, and ‘since’ COVID-19. In: Perspectives in Body Image (PiBI) International Online Conference, 16th -18th September 2025, Online Conference (ACE lab, University of Durham). (Unpublished)

Abstract

Purpose: Though a worldwide period of uncertainty (COVID-19) has ‘ended’, there exists a legacy of maladaptive experiences among people with significant appearance concerns (SAC) that requires care and attention. Methods: using Giddens’ concept of ontological security, we explored how people experienced their SAC before, during and ‘since’ COVID-19. Qualitative surveys allowed us to capture diverse perspectives from individuals transnationally, analysed with deductive reflexive thematic analysis using ontological security as our theoretical foundation. Results: themes named ‘More Mirror(ed) Time’ and ‘Locked Out, Shut Down, and Shut Out’ gave a contextual grounding for the embodied experiences of this group through times of social restrictions, and the theme ‘Redefining Relevance’ explored the continued legacy of COVID-19 - and continued global uncertainties such as economic hardship and warfare - that impact the wellbeing of people with SAC. Conclusions: this presentation explores the continued relevance of these themes five years ‘after’ the pandemic. We will shed light on how people with SAC are still ‘locked out’ from essential healthcare support, as those providing healthcare are overworked, under-resourced and rely on efficient interactive methods such as tele-health that may be triggers for people with SAC. To conclude, we describe how care providers may consider expanding appearance concerns verbiage, look to involve trusted others in the care-seeking process, and utilise modalities beyond digital health to support people with SAC. In addition, we highlight how Giddens’ concept of ontological security may have wider significance in expanding body image research in a continually uncertain world that transcends diverse sociocultural landscapes.

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