Coping in Children and Adolescents with Obesity: The Costs and Benefits of Realistic versus Unrealistic Weight Evaluations

Abstract

The study analysed differences in coping strategies between obese and non‐obese children and adolescents (age: 8–14 years) in response to a social stressor. Physicians' diagnoses of obesity and self‐reports on height and weight as well as gender and age were considered. A sample of 757 participants responded to an established German coping questionnaire. In addition to general coping strategies, two more potentially weight‐related coping strategies were assessed. Adolescent obese girls who reported height and weight realistically showed particularly little social support‐seeking behavior. Media use in general increased with age, but was especially high for adolescent obese boys who evaluated themselves as obese. Finally, girls in general and obese children and adolescents who evaluated themselves as overweight or obese showed higher stress‐related eating. With regard to coping it seems to be a disadvantage for obese children and adolescents to see themselves as obese. In contrast, obese children and adolescents who have unrealistically positive self‐evaluations of their weight report coping strategies similar to those reported by normal weight children and adolescents. It is assumed that positive self‐evaluations of body weight prevent especially obese adolescents from inactivity and social isolation. Findings are relevant for the design of interventions to treat obesity.

A Turkish Adaptation of the Coping Scales From the German Stress and Coping Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents

“…Gender differences in coping strategies among children and adolescents were observed in four of the six coping strategies. The finding that girls reported greater seeking social support, whereas boys reported higher avoidant coping, is consistent with Eschenbeck, Kohlmann, and Lohaus (2007) and Meier et al (2010). Similarly, using a Turkish version of the Coping Across Situation Questionnaire (CASQ; Seiffge-Krenke, 1995), Öngen (2006) demonstrated higher levels of approach-oriented coping for females and higher levels of avoidant coping for males in a sample of Turkish adolescents.…”

“…In particular, problem solving correlated positively with psychological adjustment, while anger-related emotion regulation and the coping strategy media use were related to poorer adjustment. Studies have also shown gender differences in coping strategies (Eschenbeck, Kohlmann, Deiß, Hübner, & Hermanns, 2007; Eschenbeck, Kohlmann, & Lohaus, 2007; Meier, Kohlmann, Eschenbeck, & Gross, 2010). In general, girls scored higher in seeking social support and problem solving, whereas boys scored higher in avoidant coping.…”

Perception Makes the Difference: The Association of Actual and Perceived Weight Status with Self‐Reported and Parent‐Reported Personal Resources and Well‐Being in Adolescents

“…For example, in the above‐mentioned study, Kurth and Ellert (2008) directly compared groups of normal‐weight adolescents with different weight perceptions and found health‐related quality of life to be severely impaired in normal‐weight adolescents who feel “far too fat” compared to normal‐weight adolescents who considered themselves to have “just the right weight”. In addition, a study by Meier, Kohlmann, Eschenbeck, and Gross (2010) has shown that feeling normal weight is an advantage for obese adolescents regarding coping strategies. In contrast to obese adolescents with overweight perceptions, they engaged in unfavourable coping strategies, like media use and stress‐related eating, to a much lower degree.…”

Nutzung von schulischen und außerschulischen Freizeitangeboten durch Kinder und Jugendliche

“…Im vorliegenden Artikel werden diejenigen Teilaspekte der Befragung dargestellt, die sich auf das Freizeitverhalten beziehen. Die Skalen zum Gesundheitsverhalten und zum Umgang mit Stress sind nicht Bestandteil des vorliegenden Artikels [18,29,30].…”

“…Von positiven Effekten der eingangs beschriebenen strukturierten Aktivitäten [14] auf die psychische Befindlichkeit ist daher kaum auszugehen. Eher deuten die verstärkten Wünsche nach Computertätigkeiten auf einen sozialen Rück-zug hin, der bei adipösen Mädchen dieses Alters tatsächlich verstärkt gefunden wurde [30].…”