Perceived Social Support and Its Association With Obesity-Specific Health-Related Quality of Life

Abstract

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.

Factors Associated with Health-Related Quality of Life Among Overweight and Obese Korean Women

“…This result may be due to the fact that depressive symptoms were significantly correlated (r = −0.49) with ISEL scores, and these depressive symptoms, in turn, may have been confounded with the significant association between social support and obesity-specific HRQOL. On the other hand, Herzer et al reported that perceived social support was significantly associated with obesity-specific HRQOL in obese youth; this significant association may differ from ours because of different sources of support, i.e., close friends, parents, and teachers (Herzer et al 2011). Further research is needed using various social support measures among overweight and obese individuals to identify the association between social support and HRQOL.…”

“…The total score of BDI-II ranges from 0-63 and is categorized by: 0-13 for minimal, 14-19 for mild, 20-28 for moderate, and 29-63 for severe depressive symptoms. The BDI-II has high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.91), and an average test-retest reliability of 0.72 across 20 studies (Herzer et al 2011). In this study, the Cronbach's alpha was 0.88.…”

“…Compared to generic measures, disease-specific tools assess the specific states and issues associated with certain diagnoses and have the sensitivity and specificity to best detect the impact of a specific condition (i.e., obesity) on daily functioning (Herzer et al 2011;Vasiljevic et al 2012). In this context, an obesity-specific HRQOL measure, the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life (IWQOL)-Lite, was used in the present study to assess the effects of obesity on quality of life (Kolotkin et al 2001).…”

Factors associated with social anxiety disorder in a group of obese Turkish female patients

“…The presence of a correlation between high BMI and social support is highlighted and the support of family, close friends, and teachers is especially underlined (44,45). Social support promotes healthy behaviors; therefore, increasing social support from family and friends is warranted (44). Social support was found to be directly related with well-being, whereas BMI was not (41).…”

“…Controversial results have been obtained in studies related to the effect of social support on BMI and weight loss (41)(42)(43)(44)(45). The presence of a correlation between high BMI and social support is highlighted and the support of family, close friends, and teachers is especially underlined (44,45). Social support promotes healthy behaviors; therefore, increasing social support from family and friends is warranted (44).…”