Department of General Paediatrics, Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland.
Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Clin Obes. 2021 Jun;11(3):e12437. doi: 10.1111/cob.12437. Epub 2021 Jan 14.
Adolescents with severe obesity are subject to a high prevalence of weight-based victimization that may lead to pervasive mental health symptoms. However, different coping strategies could potentially modulate these psychological consequences. This study aims to explore how treatment-seeking adolescents with severe obesity cope with weight-based victimization. This was a qualitative research study using an interpretive phenomenological analytic approach. One-on-one semi structured interviews were completed with 19 adolescents (63% female) enrolled in a weight management program. The interviews were transcribed and sequentially analysed until data saturation was attained. The majority of participants (89.5%) described being a victim of weight-based victimization and highlighted a significant emotional toll. Two key themes were identified that captured the various coping strategies used by participants. Over half (52.9%) described approach coping strategies where they acted on the source to invoke change by standing up for themselves, helping others in similar situations or becoming a bully themselves. Whilst the majority (94.1%) used avoidant coping strategies such as feigning a strong exterior façade, denial, isolation and self-harm. Nearly half (47.1%) used both strategies. Treatment-seeking adolescents with severe obesity commonly use avoidant coping strategies to deal with weight-based victimization. These strategies are associated with negative mental health outcomes and should be evaluated when counselling adolescents with obesity who have experienced weight-based victimization.
青少年严重肥胖者普遍受到与体重相关的伤害，这可能导致普遍的心理健康症状。然而，不同的应对策略可能会调节这些心理后果。本研究旨在探讨寻求治疗的严重肥胖青少年如何应对与体重相关的伤害。这是一项使用解释现象学分析方法的定性研究。对参加体重管理计划的 19 名青少年（63%为女性）进行了一对一的半结构化访谈。访谈记录被转录，并按顺序进行分析，直到达到数据饱和。大多数参与者（89.5%）描述了自己是体重相关伤害的受害者，并强调了对他们情绪的巨大影响。确定了两个关键主题，这些主题反映了参与者使用的各种应对策略。超过一半（52.9%）描述了积极应对策略，即通过为自己挺身而出、帮助处于类似情况的他人或自己成为欺凌者来应对伤害源，以引发改变。而大多数参与者（94.1%）使用回避应对策略，如假装坚强、否认、孤立和自残。近一半（47.1%）同时使用这两种策略。寻求治疗的严重肥胖青少年通常使用回避应对策略来应对与体重相关的伤害。这些策略与负面心理健康结果相关，在为经历过体重相关伤害的肥胖青少年提供咨询时，应进行评估。
