Date of Conferral

5-9-2024

Date of Award

May 2024

Degree

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)

School

Psychology

Advisor

Barry Linden

Abstract

Obesity is a global health concern associated with a multitude of psychosocial issues, including emotional dysregulation, depression, low self-esteem, social isolation, and economic issues related to bias. Weight loss surgery is generally considered to be an effective treatment; however, insufficient weight loss and weight regain are not uncommon. Because self-compassion and self-concept are psychological and social constructs that have been shown to influence obesity and health, the purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between weight loss surgery outcomes and these two concepts to obtain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind suboptimal weight loss. The theoretical framework for this study was Carl Rogers’s personality theory, which emphasizes the influence of social factors on self-concept. This quantitative study employed a correlational design with a survey method. Participants had undergone bariatric surgery within the past 2–10 years and were administered both the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale-2 (TSCS-2) and the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). A Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship between self-compassion scores and weight loss outcomes. Multiple regression analysis indicated that common humanity (a SCS score) significantly predicted the incidence of weight regain. Furthermore, TSCS-2 scale scores for academic/work and physical self-concept contributed to the prediction of weight regain when included in the stepwise regression equation. The findings of this study could offer medical and mental health professionals’ clarity regarding the mechanisms influencing variation in weight loss outcomes, aiding in the development of preventive and supportive interventions post-weight loss surgery.

Download

Share

 
COinS