title: Psychosocial variables and self-rated health in young adult obese women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to describe relationships among self-rated health, stress, sleep quality, loneliness, and self-esteem, in obese young adult women.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Obesity has steadily increased among young adults and is a major predictor of self-rated health.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 68 obese (BMI 30 or higher, mean 35), young (18-34 years, mean 22) adult women were recruited from a health center. Survey data were gathered and analyzed using descriptive and bivariate procedures to assess relationships and group differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scores reflected stress, loneliness, poor sleep quality, and poor self-esteem. There were positive correlations among stress, loneliness, and sleep quality and, a high inverse correlation between loneliness and self-esteem. Those who ranked their health as poor differed on stress, loneliness, and self-esteem when compared to those with rankings of good/very good.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assessing and addressing stress, loneliness, sleep quality and self-esteem could lead to improved health outcomes in obese young women.
authors.affiliation: WVU School of Nursing, PO Box 9600, Health Sciences Center South, Morgantown, WV 26506-9600. Electronic address: mjsmith@hsc.wvu.edu.
authors.forename: Mary Jane
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: WVU School of Nursing, PO Box 9600, Health Sciences Center South, Morgantown, WV 26506-9600. Electronic address: ltheeke@hsc.wvu.edu.
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Theeke
authors.affiliation: WVU School of Nursing, PO Box 9600, Health Sciences Center South, Morgantown, WV 26506-9600. Electronic address: sculp@hsc.wvu.edu.
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Culp
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Student Health Services, PO Box 9247, Health Sciences Center South, Morgantown, WV 26506-9247. Electronic address: kclark@hsc.wvu.edu.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: WVU School of Nursing, PO Box 9600, Health Sciences Center South, Morgantown, WV 26506-9600. Electronic address: supinto@hsc.wvu.edu.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pinto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012890:Sleep; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Loneliness; Obesity; Self-esteem; Self-rated health; Stress