title: Implications of weight-based stigma and self-bias on quality of life among individuals with schizophrenia.
abstract: Obesity has been associated with significant stigma and weight-related self-bias in community and clinical studies, but these issues have not been studied among individuals with schizophrenia. A consecutive series of 70 obese individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder underwent assessment for perceptions of weight-based stigmatization, self-directed weight bias, negative affect, medication compliance, and quality of life. The levels of weight-based stigmatization and self-bias were compared with levels reported for nonpsychiatric overweight/obese samples. Weight measures were unrelated to stigma, self-bias, affect, and quality of life. Weight-based stigmatization was lower than published levels for nonpsychiatric samples, whereas levels of weight-based self-bias did not differ. After controlling for negative affect, weight-based self-bias predicted an additional 11% of the variance in the quality of life measure. Individuals with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder reported weight-based self-bias to the same extent as nonpsychiatric samples despite reporting less weight stigma. Weight-based self-bias was associated with poorer quality of life after controlling for negative affect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, VA Connecticut Healthcare System-West Haven, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516, USA. Jessica.barber@va.gov
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palmese
authors.forename: Erin L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Reutenauer
authors.forename: Carlos M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Grilo
authors.forename: Cenk
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tek
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires