OBJECTIVE: To (1) describe type and source of social support perceived by obese youth and examine associations with sociodemographic/anthropometric characteristics, and (2) examine relationships between social support and obesity-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL). METHODS: Seventy-four obese youth and their primary caregivers participated. Youth completed the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale and an obesity-specific HRQOL measure, Sizing Me Up. RESULTS: Close friends and parents provided the most social support and were rated most important, except for teacher informational support. Classmates and schools provided the least social support. Body mass index z-score was correlated with teacher support frequency (r = -.26, p < .05) and minority youth reported more parent support (t(72) = -2.21, p < .05). Compared with other support providers, classmate support significantly predicted most HRQOL scales (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Close friends, parents, and teachers are significant sources of support to youth with obesity; however, classmates play a unique role in the HRQOL of obese youth.
OBJECTIVE: To (1) describe type and source of social support perceived by obese youth and examine associations with sociodemographic/anthropometric characteristics, and (2) examine relationships between social support and obesity-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL). METHODS: Seventy-four obese youth and their primary caregivers participated. Youth completed the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale and an obesity-specific HRQOL measure, Sizing Me Up. RESULTS: Close friends and parents provided the most social support and were rated most important, except for teacher informational support. Classmates and schools provided the least social support. Body mass index z-score was correlated with teacher support frequency (r = -.26, p < .05) and minority youth reported more parent support (t(72) = -2.21, p < .05). Compared with other support providers, classmate support significantly predicted most HRQOL scales (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Close friends, parents, and teachers are significant sources of support to youth with obesity; however, classmates play a unique role in the HRQOL of obese youth.
Authors: R J Kuczmarski; C L Ogden; L M Grummer-Strawn; K M Flegal; S S Guo; R Wei; Z Mei; L R Curtin; A F Roche; C L Johnson Journal: Adv Data Date: 2000-06-08
Authors: Alison E Mellin; Dianne Neumark-Sztainer; Mary Story; Marjorie Ireland; Michael D Resnick Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2002-08 Impact factor: 5.012
Authors: Julia K Kolodziejczyk; Kyle Gutzmer; Shana M Wright; Elva M Arredondo; Linda Hill; Kevin Patrick; Jeannie S Huang; Michael Gottschalk; Gregory J Norman Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2014-07-01 Impact factor: 4.147