[Perception of self and parents of obese preschool children].
THE AIM of the study is to present characteristics of the sense of identity and mental representation of parents of obese preschool children.


METHODS
21 children with obesity and 24 children with normal weight were investigated using the Children's Apperception Test--CAT-A. The CAT-A consists of 10 black and white pictures presenting animals in different situations, significant in the child's development and functioning.


RESULTS
Significant differences were found in the sense of identity of the examined children in the area of sense of mental distinctness as well as socio-emotional and sexual aspects of the sense of identity. The mental representations of parents were characterized by differences in accessibility and sense of continuity as well as socio-emotional, sexual and activity-related aspects of mental representation. The differences were connected with sex and body mass of the examined children.


CONCLUSIONS
Therapeutic indications for clinical practice with obese children have been formulated: motivating the family as a whole to partake in the therapeutic process, necessity of early intervention, different modes of diagnosis and therapy for boys and girls, prophylactic care for obese girls as a potential risk group for eating disorders.
Radoszewska
Joanna
J
Katedra Psychologii Klinicznej Dziecka i Rodziny, Wydział Psychologii, Uniwersytet Warszawski, ul. Stawki 5/7, 00-183 Warszawa, Poland. joanrad@psych.uw.edu.pl
Misiec
Monika
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011044:Poland; D011385:Projection; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome