Obesity-related coping and distress and relationship to treatment preference.

• OBJECTIVES: The primary purpose was to define obesity-related strategies for coping with psychological problems connected with obesity. We also wanted to identify obesity-related distress and explore the effect of coping on distress. Thirdly, we wanted to investigate differences in coping and distress related to choice of surgery or conventional treatment. DESIGN: Cross-sectional data from patients in the Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) intervention study. METHODS: An obesity-related questionnaire concerning coping and distress was created and evaluated in 2510 patients from the SOS study, using multitrait, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis procedures. RESULTS: Three coping factors were defined. Social Trust and Fighting Spirit were problem-focused, whereas Wishful Thinking was emotion-focused. Surgical candidates displayed lower levels of problem-focused and higher levels of emotion-focused coping. We also identified two distress factors: Intrusion and Helplessness. Wishful Thinking was positively related to distress, and Social Trust and Fighting Spirit were inversely related, thus explaining the higher levels of distress reported by the surgical candidates. CONCLUSIONS: In our sample, emotion-focused coping proved maladaptive and was associated with increased distress. Problem-focused coping, however, was adaptive and associated with reduced distress. These findings partly explain psychological morbidity and should be taken into consideration in the treatment of obese people.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adaptation

Psychological

Adult

Choice Behavior

Cross-Sectional Studies

Depression

diagnosis

etiology

psychology

Factor Analysis

Statistical

Female

Humans

Male

Middle Aged

Obesity

psychology

surgery

therapy

Questionnaires

Random Allocation

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)