title: The role of pre-treatment proactive coping skills in successful weight management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Proactive coping encompasses future-oriented self-regulatory skills that help people prepare for future difficulties before they occur, such as planning and monitoring. The aim of the present study was to examine the interplay between pre-treatment proactive coping skills and expected difficulties during weight loss in determining successful weight management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Obese and overweight Dutch adults (N=119) who enrolled in a weight management intervention reported their level of proactive coping skills and expected difficulties at the start of intervention. Two months later, weight loss was assessed via self-report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show that the detrimental effects of a low level of proactive coping skills were compensated by the expectation that many difficulties would accompany the weight loss attempt. Also, pre-treatment proactive coping skills did not predict weight loss success above and beyond self-efficacy and socio-demographic factors (e.g., gender).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that future-oriented self-regulatory skills and beliefs about impending difficulties at the start of intervention may have predictive value for subsequent success in weight management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. Electronic address: charlotte.vinkers@philips.com.
authors.forename: Charlotte D W
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Vinkers
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marieke A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Adriaanse
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Floor M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Kroese
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Denise T D
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: de Ridder
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D050177:Overweight / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D020377:Self Efficacy; D057566:Self Report; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs
keywords: Expected difficulties; Intervention; Obesity; Proactive coping; Weight loss