Ryan J Marek1, Valentina Ivezaj2, Leslie Schuh3, David Creel3,4, Carlos M Grilo2. 1. Department of Primary Care and Clinical Medicine, Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, 925 City Central Avenue, Conroe, TX, 77304, USA. rxm147@shsu.edu. 2. Program for Obesity, Weight, and Eating Research, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Yale University, 300 George Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA. 3. St. Vincent Bariatrics, Ascension St. Vincent Carmel Hospital, Carmel, IN, 46032, USA. 4. Bariatric & Metabolic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Attitudes Toward Persons with Obesity (ATOP) scale is widely used to assess stigmatization toward persons with obesity. The measure has previously been suggested to assess three facets-self-esteem, personality, and social difficulties-however, psychometric support for this has been inconsistent and warrants further study if the measure intends to be scored this way. OBJECTIVES: Explore and confirm the factor structure of the ATOP in people assessed prior to bariatric surgery and reassessed 1 year postoperatively SETTING: Midwestern hospital in the USA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three-hundred sixteen people who were seeking bariatric surgery were assessed preoperatively, and 161 of those people were reassessed 1 year after surgery with a battery of measures including the ATOP. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on ATOP data from a random split-half of people before surgery, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed on the second randomly selected half. With the postoperative sample, a CFA was performed, testing the best-fitting model from the preoperative CFA findings. RESULTS: The EFA suggested a two-factor structure interpreted as self-esteem and personality/social difficulties. This structure was supported by CFA performed on the second randomly selected half of people at preoperative assessment and by CFA performed on people 1 year following surgery. Tests of measurement invariance suggested that the two-factor structure was similar at both time points. CONCLUSIONS: Only two factors for the ATOP were empirically supported in the current sample (self-esteem and personality/social difficulties), which is slightly different from the three factors that were originally proposed when the measure was developed. This factor structure is supported both prior to bariatric surgery and 1 year after bariatric surgery.
BACKGROUND: The Attitudes Toward Persons with Obesity (ATOP) scale is widely used to assess stigmatization toward persons with obesity. The measure has previously been suggested to assess three facets-self-esteem, personality, and social difficulties-however, psychometric support for this has been inconsistent and warrants further study if the measure intends to be scored this way. OBJECTIVES: Explore and confirm the factor structure of the ATOP in people assessed prior to bariatric surgery and reassessed 1 year postoperatively SETTING: Midwestern hospital in the USA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three-hundred sixteen people who were seeking bariatric surgery were assessed preoperatively, and 161 of those people were reassessed 1 year after surgery with a battery of measures including the ATOP. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on ATOP data from a random split-half of people before surgery, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed on the second randomly selected half. With the postoperative sample, a CFA was performed, testing the best-fitting model from the preoperative CFA findings. RESULTS: The EFA suggested a two-factor structure interpreted as self-esteem and personality/social difficulties. This structure was supported by CFA performed on the second randomly selected half of people at preoperative assessment and by CFA performed on people 1 year following surgery. Tests of measurement invariance suggested that the two-factor structure was similar at both time points. CONCLUSIONS: Only two factors for the ATOP were empirically supported in the current sample (self-esteem and personality/social difficulties), which is slightly different from the three factors that were originally proposed when the measure was developed. This factor structure is supported both prior to bariatric surgery and 1 year after bariatric surgery.
Authors: Marney A White; Melissa A Kalarchian; Michele D Levine; Robin M Masheb; Marsha D Marcus; Carlos M Grilo Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2015-10 Impact factor: 4.129
Authors: Kendrin R Sonneville; Kelsey L Rose; Nathalie J Lambrecht; Mikayla R Barry; Heidi M Weeks; Cindy W Leung Journal: Public Health Nutr Date: 2020-11-10 Impact factor: 4.022