Date of Conferral

8-13-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Jay Greiner

Abstract

Patients undergoing bariatric surgery have no standard of care for the pre-surgical evaluation process (PSE). Often, these patients look at the PSE as just another hurdle to jump through before reaching surgery. The PSE, however, offers an opportunity for mental health professionals to prepare the patient for the challenging lifestyle changes necessary for weight loss maintenance in the long term. The problem being studied is whether patients feel they are prepared for the unique mental health challenges, eating disorder challenges, and strict lifestyle changes during the PSE. The study followed a qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis approach to explore the lived experience of patients who are 12-36 months post-operative with the PSE related to preparedness for mental health challenges, eating disorder challenges, and strict lifestyle changes post-bariatric. Self-efficacy theory and health belief models were a conceptual guide. Semistructured interviews were conducted using Zoom, and the coding was completed by hand. The analysis resulted in seven themes, including a) lack of assistance in preparation for lifestyle changes after bariatric surgery, (b) received some education and assurance from professionals to prepare for lifestyle changes after bariatric surgery, (c) had a discussion of one's support system after bariatric surgery, (d) did not find PSE to be helpful for mental health, (e) had some discussions about the possible mental health impacts of bariatric surgery, (f) need for a personalized and holistic approach to PSE, and (g) need improvements to follow-up care. The study contributed to positive social change by gathering input from post-surgical bariatric patients that can be used to improve the PSE process.

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