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[Obesity and coping in childhood].
Tatiana Stauber1, Franz Petermann, Uwe Korb
1Zentrum für Klinische Psychologie und Rehabilitation der Universität Bremen.
Praxis Der Kinderpsychologie Und Kinderpsychiatrie
|April 29, 2004
Summary
Obese children and adolescents did not differ in coping styles from healthy peers. However, emotional and external eating behaviors in obese youth correlated with maladaptive coping strategies, influencing their eating habits.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Childhood Obesity Research
- Behavioral Science
Context:
- Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern.
- Understanding the psychological factors, such as coping styles and eating behaviors, is crucial for effective interventions.
- Previous research has explored coping styles in chronically ill children, but less is known about obese children specifically.
Purpose:
- To investigate everyday coping styles in obese children compared to healthy controls, considering gender differences.
- To examine the correlations between eating behavior (emotional and external eating) and coping styles in obese children.
- To compare groups with extreme scores in eating behavior.
Summary:
- The study found no significant differences in coping styles between obese children (N=58, ages 11-13) and matched healthy controls.
- In obese children, emotional and external eating behaviors were positively correlated with maladaptive coping strategies.
- Results suggest that while overall coping styles may not differ, specific eating behaviors in obese children are influenced by their coping mechanisms.
Impact:
- Findings highlight the intricate relationship between coping styles and eating behaviors in childhood obesity.
- This research provides valuable insights for developing targeted psychological interventions for obese children.
- Understanding these correlations can inform strategies to manage emotional and external eating patterns associated with maladaptive coping.