Date of Conferral

2020

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Patti P. Barrows

Abstract

Obesity poses an escalating threat to public health in many countries. A better understanding of the psychological construct of obesity and alternative approaches for treating it are needed. The purpose of this study was to examine secondary data to measure the effects of a program using group play in sand on self-perceptions of obese Danish women. The framework was based on elements from the Bandura’s social learning theory and conception of self-efficacy integrated with the concept of body image perception. Participants (N = 34) were obese women in Copenhagen, Denmark, who used group play in sand as their therapy program. They were recruited mainly through Facebook ads, newsletters, and flyers and posters by a center that facilitates different programs for stress relief and personal development. The participants answered questionnaire items about perceived stress, self-efficacy, and body image, with the latter items from Stunkard, Sørensen, and Schulsinger’s rating scale. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed changes in mean scores over 3 points in times. The results of the study show significant findings for the 3 variables with a significant decrease in stress level, a significant increase in self-efficacy, and a significant change in perception of body image resulting from the use of group play in sand. The results may contribute to positive social change by providing clinicians with an alternative tool of group play in sand, which might support success in weight loss and maintenance programs for obese women.

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