title: Emotional distress about weight gain and attitude to goal achievement failure as predictors of self-regulatory efficacy: does ethnicity make a difference?
abstract: In spite of alarming increases in obesity, little is known concerning the influence of emotional distress about weight gain on perceived self-efficacy in maintaining self-control when controlling for racial identity. This study found that emotional distress toward goal achievement failure mediated the influence of ethnicity on perceived self-efficacy in resisting eating temptations. White females reporting higher emotional distress about weight gain than their black counterparts displayed lower self-regulatory efficacy, particularly when negative emotions were involved. Negative attitudes toward goal achievement failure among whites played a critical role in undermining perceived self-regulatory efficacy. The implications for public policy are discussed.
authors: University of Michigan, Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. djmoore@umich.edu
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Moore
authors: David R
authors: DR
authors: Williams
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012933:Social Identification; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D015430:Weight Gain; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult