title: Sociodemographic Differences in the Association Between Obesity and Stress: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).
abstract: Few population-based studies have used an econometric approach to understand the association between two cancer risk factors, obesity and stress. This study investigated sociodemographic differences in the association between obesity and stress among Korean adults (6,546 men and 8,473 women). Data were drawn from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2008, 2009, and 2010. Ordered logistic regression models and propensity score matching methods were used to examine the associations between obesity and stress, stratified by gender and age groups. In women, the stress level of the obese group was found to be 27.6% higher than the nonobese group in the ordered logistic regression; the obesity effect on stress was statistically significant in the propensity score-matched analysis. Corresponding evidence for the effect of obesity on stress was lacking among men. Participants who were young, well-educated, and working were more likely to report stress. In Korea, obesity causes stress in women but not in men. Young women are susceptible to a disproportionate level of stress. More cancer prevention programs targeting young and obese women are encouraged in developed Asian countries.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kwok-Kei
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: Dae-Hwan
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Leigh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D057216:Propensity Score; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult