Lydia E Hayward1, Lenny R Vartanian1, Rebecca T Pinkus2. 1. School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 2. School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Weight-based stigmatization is associated with negative psychological and behavioral consequences, but individuals respond to stigma in different ways. The present study aimed to understand some of the factors that predict how one will cope with weight stigma and how different coping responses predict psychological well-being. METHODS: Across four samples, 1,391 individuals who identified as having overweight or obesity completed surveys assessing the frequency of weight stigma experiences, internalized weight bias, coping responses to weight stigma, and psychological distress. RESULTS: Frequency of weight stigma predicted greater internalized weight bias, which predicted more frequent use of maladaptive coping responses ("disengagement coping") and less frequent use of adaptive coping responses ("reappraisal coping"), in turn predicting more depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The more that individuals with overweight or obesity experience weight stigma and internalize weight bias, the more they report using maladaptive coping and the less they report using adaptive coping when dealing with weight stigma. Maladaptive coping is strongly associated with poorer psychological well-being. Thus, those who experience more frequent weight stigma may be more vulnerable to psychological distress because they appear to be at greater risk of employing maladaptive coping strategies.
OBJECTIVE: Weight-based stigmatization is associated with negative psychological and behavioral consequences, but individuals respond to stigma in different ways. The present study aimed to understand some of the factors that predict how one will cope with weight stigma and how different coping responses predict psychological well-being. METHODS: Across four samples, 1,391 individuals who identified as having overweight or obesity completed surveys assessing the frequency of weight stigma experiences, internalized weight bias, coping responses to weight stigma, and psychological distress. RESULTS: Frequency of weight stigma predicted greater internalized weight bias, which predicted more frequent use of maladaptive coping responses ("disengagement coping") and less frequent use of adaptive coping responses ("reappraisal coping"), in turn predicting more depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The more that individuals with overweight or obesity experience weight stigma and internalize weight bias, the more they report using maladaptive coping and the less they report using adaptive coping when dealing with weight stigma. Maladaptive coping is strongly associated with poorer psychological well-being. Thus, those who experience more frequent weight stigma may be more vulnerable to psychological distress because they appear to be at greater risk of employing maladaptive coping strategies.
Authors: Per Hoegh Poulsen; Karin Biering; Trine Nøhr Winding; Ellen Aagaard Nohr; Liselotte Vogdrup Petersen; Stanley J Ulijaszek; Johan Hviid Andersen Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2019-11-07 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Xavier C C Fung; Andrew M H Siu; Marc N Potenza; Kerry S O'Brien; Janet D Latner; Chao-Ying Chen; I-Hua Chen; Chung-Ying Lin Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2021-05-24 Impact factor: 4.157