The Obesity and Psychological Resilience in Children: Investigating the Connection

Authors : Betül Orhan Kiliç, Dilek Konuksever

Pages : 86-91

View : 155 | Download : 175

Publication Date : 2023-10-15

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Aim: Obesity is a critical public health issue that is increasingly prevalent among children. This study aimed to examine the psychological resilience of both obese and normal-weight children, as well as the factors influencing their resilience levels. Material and Method: This study included obese and normal-weight children who applied to Başkent University Hospital between July 2023-August 2023. Children and their parents filled out a questionnaire consisting of parents\' socio-demographic data and the \"Child and Youth Resilience Measure”. SPSS-23 was utilized to conduct a comparison of scale scores through Pearson\'s correlation coefficient test. Additionally, multiple linear regression was employed to elucidate the connections between the variables. Results: A total of 111 adolescents were included in this study, comprising 48 (43.2%) normal weight individuals and 63 (56.8%) obese individuals. The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of age and gender distribution (p >0.05). The study revealed a negative correlation between psychological resilience and children\'s age (r=-0.210, p=0.027), a positive correlation with family income (r=0.247, p=0.009), and a negative correlation with obesity (r=-0.342, p <0.001). Both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed a significant negative association between obesity and the father\'s education level (B: -1.00, p=0.046), as well as a negative relationship between obesity and psychological resilience (B:-0.12, p=0.001). Conclusion: Our study revealed a negative correlation between children\'s resilience levels and their age and obesity status, while also showing a positive correlation with family income. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms of these associations and to develop effective interventions aimed at enhancing children\'s resilience. Keywords: Child, obesity, psychological resilience
Keywords : Çocuk, obezite, psikolojik sağlamlık