Examining associations between obesity and mental health disorders from childhood to adolescence: A case-control prospective study

Beltrán‐Garrayo, Lucía; Solar, María; Blanco, Montserrat; Berna, Montserrat Graell; Sepúlveda, Ana R.

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115296

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Taking a qualitative perspective, we found several indicators of psychological concerns in children/adolescents with obesity, as shown by an “abnormal” impact score of SDQ, indicating how heavy the impact of difficulties that these subjects experienced in many life domains is. Accordingly, several findings in the literature suggest that the condition of obesity can severely impact the psychological and social adjustment ( Griffiths and Page, 2008 ; Pulgarón, 2013 ; Erskine et al, 2015 ; Beltrán-Garrayo et al, 2023 ). Literature also suggests that the condition of childhood obesity is linked to some psychosocial disadvantages such as parental divorce ( Hamer and Stamatakis, 2008 ; Gundersen et al, 2011 ) and low family income ( Hanson and Chen, 2007 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The psychosocial functioning in adolescents with severe obesity evaluated throughout the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ): a preliminary report

Guerrini Usubini,

Bottacchi,

Morelli

et al. 2024

Front. Psychol.

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IntroductionChildhood obesity is associated with poor psychological adjustment. Severely impacts the psychological adjustment of young patients. To assess the psychological functioning of children and adolescents, several questionnaires have been proposed so far. Although the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is one of the most well-used tools, its application in obesity research is scarce. The study is aimed at assessing the psychological profile of a sample of Italian children and adolescents seeking an in-hospital multidisciplinary body weight reduction program for obesity, via SDQ.MethodsOne hundred and fourteen consecutive Italian children and adolescents with obesity (43 males/71 females, age range: 11–17 years, mean age ± SD: 15.1 ± 1.66, body mass index-BMI ± SD: 37.4 ± 6.13 kg/m2), were recruited at the Division of Auxology, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Piancavallo (VB).ResultsObese Females reported worse conditions of emotional symptoms (t = 5.48; p < 0.001) and peer problems (t = 2.34; p = 0.021), as well as higher which were associated with greater scores of pro-social behaviors than obese males (t = 3.07; p = 0.003). The total difficulties score (t = 4.00; p < 0.001) and the total impact score (t = 4.53; p < 0.001) were significantly higher in females than males. No statistically significant differences in SDQ variables were found in relation to the degree of obesity (BMI SDS: 2–2.99; BMI SDS: > 3).DiscussionThese findings can contribute to understand the psychological condition of adolescents with obesity in a better way and also to develop effective interventions for the treatment of pediatric obesity which not only take into account the medical and physical aspects but also the emotional and social difficulties expressed by adolescents with obesity.

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