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Predicting Quality of Life in Weight Loss Participants: The Influence of Perceived Stigma, Negative Coping, and Obesity Knowledge

Kellogg, Erin Ashley
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1313598999

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Psychology.
Obesity is a common, chronic medical condition associated with negative physical, emotional, and psychological sequelae. Past research indicates that individuals with obesity have low knowledge of the health risks of obesity, perceive high levels of weight-related stigmatization, engage in a variety of adaptive and maladaptive coping mechanisms, and report lower quality of life than their peers. However, prior studies have not investigated the potential importance of interactions among these factors in weight management patients. The current study aimed to identify relationships between study variables, evaluate the relationship of dispositional traits and perceived stigma with quality of life among adults seeking behavioral treatment for obesity, and evaluate the moderating influence of knowledge on quality of life. The current study included 55 patients (31% male, 76% white, mean age = 45.8, mean BMI = 47.4) beginning a 3 or 6-month weight management program consisting of weekly educational classes, a supervised, reduced-calorie meal plan, and access to exercise facilities and classes. Participants completed self-report measures at the beginning of weight management and agreed to allow investigators access to weight management medical records. Correlational and hierarchical regression analyses were used to assess relationships among study variables. Correlational analyses indicated that perceived stigma was associated with emotional and weight specific quality of life, maladaptive coping, and poorer psychological functioning but not with BMI or physical fitness. Aspects of quality of life were associated with BMI, maladaptive coping, physical fitness, and poorer psychological functioning but not knowledge. Hierarchical regression predicting physical quality of life revealed a significant interaction between repression and stigma (t=2.49, p<.05). This interaction indicates that physical quality of life is low for repressors regardless of level of perceived stigma, but among non-repressors low levels of perceived stigma are associated with normal levels of physical quality of life. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed no interaction of avoidance and stigma in predicting any aspect of quality of life. Hierarchical regression analyses also revealed no interaction of either repression or avoidance with knowledge in predicting any aspect of quality of life. Results indicate that individuals with obesity who perceive higher levels of stigmatization associated with their weight and engage in repression or avoidance may be at risk for poorer quality of life. Further research is needed to elucidate whether negative coping at the outset of weight management is associated with poor outcomes such as limited weight loss, continued decrements in quality of life, or attrition during weight management.
Charles Emery, PhD (Advisor)
Steven Beck, PhD (Committee Member)
Ruchika Prakash, PhD (Committee Member)
71 p.
Psychology
weight management; stigma; coping; knowledge; quality of life

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kellogg, E. A. (2011). Predicting Quality of Life in Weight Loss Participants: The Influence of Perceived Stigma, Negative Coping, and Obesity Knowledge [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1313598999

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kellogg, Erin. Predicting Quality of Life in Weight Loss Participants: The Influence of Perceived Stigma, Negative Coping, and Obesity Knowledge. 2011. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1313598999.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kellogg, Erin. "Predicting Quality of Life in Weight Loss Participants: The Influence of Perceived Stigma, Negative Coping, and Obesity Knowledge." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1313598999

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.