title: Psychosocial correlates of healthy beliefs, choices, and behaviors in overweight and obese school-age children: a primary care healthy choices intervention pilot study.
abstract: The relationships among weight, mental health, social competence, healthy lifestyle beliefs, choices, and behaviors in overweight and obese school-age children (9 to 12 years) who were participating in a pilot Healthy Choices Intervention Program were examined using a descriptive correlational design. Results indicated that the children's weight negatively correlated with the children's self-concept, social skills, and, most importantly, healthy lifestyle choices. Their healthy lifestyle beliefs demonstrated positive correlations with their intentions to choose a healthy lifestyle. The children's healthy lifestyle beliefs and choices also were associated with increased cooperation and empathy behaviors. A positive self-concept was associated with decreased anxiety and depressive symptomology. These data support the need for health care providers to understand the psychological and social issues that overweight and obese school-age children experience. Cognitive behavior skills building techniques, such as those in the Healthy Choices Intervention Program, may promote healthy lifestyle choices and behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Phoenix, AZ, USA. diana.jacobson@asu.edu
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: Bernadette Mazurek
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Melnyk
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002755:Choice Behavior; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior