title: Patient self-efficacy and spouse perception of spousal support are associated with lower patient weight: baseline results from a spousal support behavioral intervention.
abstract: Obesity and related chronic illnesses are leading causes of death and excessive health care costs, necessitating identification of factors that can help patients achieve and maintain healthy weight. Greater self-efficacy and perceived spousal support in patients have been associated with successful weight management. The current study also assesses self-efficacy and perceived support in spouses and whether these factors are related to patient weight. At baseline of a spousal support trial, patients and spouses (N = 255 couples) each completed measures of self-efficacy and spousal support for their own exercise and healthy eating behaviors. We fit a multivariable regression model to examine the relationship between these factors and patient weight. Patients were 95% males and 65% Whites, with average age of 61 years (SD = 12) and weight of 212 lbs (SD = 42). Spouses were 64% Whites, with average age of 59 years (SD = 12). Factors associated with lower patient weight were older patient age (estimate = -0.8 lbs, p < .01), normal blood pressure (estimate = -17.6 lbs, p < .01), higher patient self-efficacy for eating healthy (estimate = -3.8 lbs, p = .02), and spouse greater perceived support for eating healthy (estimate = -10.0 lbs, p = .03). Future research should explore the causal pathways between perceived support and health outcomes to establish whether patient support behaviors could be a point of intervention for weight management.
authors.affiliation: Durham VA Medical Center, Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham, NC, USA. matthew.gallagher@altisource.com
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: William S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Yancy
authors.forename: Amy S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Jeffreys
authors.forename: Cynthia J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Coffman
authors.forename: Morris
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weinberger
authors.forename: Hayden B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Bosworth
authors.forename: Corrine I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Voils
mesh_terms: D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D015431:Weight Loss