Coping behavior and loneliness among obese patients.
BACKGROUND
Morbid obesity can be accompanied by physical and social problems that may influence interpersonal relationships and the recruitment of social support. The problems can be tackled with a variety of coping strategies.


METHODS
104 patients with a body mass index (BMI) 32-64 kg/m2 and mean age 36 yr were presented with the Utrecht Coping List (UCL) and the Loneliness Scale. Of these patients, 94 were female, and this cohort was analyzed more extensively.


RESULTS
Patients exhibited elevated values on the Loneliness Scale and in the UCL sub-scales palliative response, avoidance / wait-and-see, passive / depressive response pattern and expression of emotions / anger. The active approach UCL sub-scale scored lower than in a control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Obese female patients displayed avoidance, wait-and-see and passive response pattern as coping behavior, experiencing their intimate relationships as relatively unreliable and not very intimate. More research is needed to determine the effect of coping behavior on therapeutic effect.
Hörchner
Rogier
R
Nursing Research Institute, Beverwijk, The Netherlands. nri.rh@planet.nl
Tuinebreijer
Wim E
WE
Kelder
Hans
H
van Urk
Elly
E
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008132:Loneliness; D008297:Male; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support