The psychosocial functioning in adolescents with severe obesity evaluated throughout the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ): a preliminary report
IntroductionChildhood obesity is associated with poor psychological adjustment. Severely impacts the psychological adjustment of young patients. To assess the psychological functioning of children and adolescents, several questionnaires have been proposed so far. Although the Strengths and Difficult...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1205113/full |
| _version_ | 1797355238751993856 |
|---|---|
| author | Anna Guerrini Usubini Michela Bottacchi Giovanna Morelli Giovanna Morelli Diana Caroli Nicoletta Marazzi Gianluca Castelnuovo Gianluca Castelnuovo Alessandro Sartorio Alessandro Sartorio |
| author_facet | Anna Guerrini Usubini Michela Bottacchi Giovanna Morelli Giovanna Morelli Diana Caroli Nicoletta Marazzi Gianluca Castelnuovo Gianluca Castelnuovo Alessandro Sartorio Alessandro Sartorio |
| author_sort | Anna Guerrini Usubini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionChildhood obesity is associated with poor psychological adjustment. Severely impacts the psychological adjustment of young patients. To assess the psychological functioning of children and adolescents, several questionnaires have been proposed so far. Although the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is one of the most well-used tools, its application in obesity research is scarce. The study is aimed at assessing the psychological profile of a sample of Italian children and adolescents seeking an in-hospital multidisciplinary body weight reduction program for obesity, via SDQ.MethodsOne hundred and fourteen consecutive Italian children and adolescents with obesity (43 males/71 females, age range: 11–17 years, mean age ± SD: 15.1 ± 1.66, body mass index-BMI ± SD: 37.4 ± 6.13 kg/m2), were recruited at the Division of Auxology, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Piancavallo (VB).ResultsObese Females reported worse conditions of emotional symptoms (t = 5.48; p < 0.001) and peer problems (t = 2.34; p = 0.021), as well as higher which were associated with greater scores of pro-social behaviors than obese males (t = 3.07; p = 0.003). The total difficulties score (t = 4.00; p < 0.001) and the total impact score (t = 4.53; p < 0.001) were significantly higher in females than males. No statistically significant differences in SDQ variables were found in relation to the degree of obesity (BMI SDS: 2–2.99; BMI SDS: > 3).DiscussionThese findings can contribute to understand the psychological condition of adolescents with obesity in a better way and also to develop effective interventions for the treatment of pediatric obesity which not only take into account the medical and physical aspects but also the emotional and social difficulties expressed by adolescents with obesity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:08:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c1a75532e05e4c70a42adc64ec31af4f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:08:23Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-c1a75532e05e4c70a42adc64ec31af4f2024-01-15T04:38:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782024-01-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.12051131205113The psychosocial functioning in adolescents with severe obesity evaluated throughout the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ): a preliminary reportAnna Guerrini Usubini0Michela Bottacchi1Giovanna Morelli2Giovanna Morelli3Diana Caroli4Nicoletta Marazzi5Gianluca Castelnuovo6Gianluca Castelnuovo7Alessandro Sartorio8Alessandro Sartorio9Psychology Research Laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyPsychology Research Laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyDivision of Auxology, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Piancavallo-Verbania, ItalySacra Famiglia Foundation, Pediatric Neuropsychiatry Service, Cocquio Trevisago-Varese, ItalyExperimental Laboratory for Auxo-Endocrinological Research, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Piancavallo-Verbania, ItalyExperimental Laboratory for Auxo-Endocrinological Research, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyPsychology Research Laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, ItalyExperimental Laboratory for Auxo-Endocrinological Research, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Piancavallo-Verbania, ItalyExperimental Laboratory for Auxo-Endocrinological Research, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyIntroductionChildhood obesity is associated with poor psychological adjustment. Severely impacts the psychological adjustment of young patients. To assess the psychological functioning of children and adolescents, several questionnaires have been proposed so far. Although the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is one of the most well-used tools, its application in obesity research is scarce. The study is aimed at assessing the psychological profile of a sample of Italian children and adolescents seeking an in-hospital multidisciplinary body weight reduction program for obesity, via SDQ.MethodsOne hundred and fourteen consecutive Italian children and adolescents with obesity (43 males/71 females, age range: 11–17 years, mean age ± SD: 15.1 ± 1.66, body mass index-BMI ± SD: 37.4 ± 6.13 kg/m2), were recruited at the Division of Auxology, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Piancavallo (VB).ResultsObese Females reported worse conditions of emotional symptoms (t = 5.48; p < 0.001) and peer problems (t = 2.34; p = 0.021), as well as higher which were associated with greater scores of pro-social behaviors than obese males (t = 3.07; p = 0.003). The total difficulties score (t = 4.00; p < 0.001) and the total impact score (t = 4.53; p < 0.001) were significantly higher in females than males. No statistically significant differences in SDQ variables were found in relation to the degree of obesity (BMI SDS: 2–2.99; BMI SDS: > 3).DiscussionThese findings can contribute to understand the psychological condition of adolescents with obesity in a better way and also to develop effective interventions for the treatment of pediatric obesity which not only take into account the medical and physical aspects but also the emotional and social difficulties expressed by adolescents with obesity.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1205113/fullchildhood obesityadolescentspsychological adjustmentpsychological wellbeingstrengths and difficulties questionnaire |
| spellingShingle | Anna Guerrini Usubini Michela Bottacchi Giovanna Morelli Giovanna Morelli Diana Caroli Nicoletta Marazzi Gianluca Castelnuovo Gianluca Castelnuovo Alessandro Sartorio Alessandro Sartorio The psychosocial functioning in adolescents with severe obesity evaluated throughout the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ): a preliminary report Frontiers in Psychology childhood obesity adolescents psychological adjustment psychological wellbeing strengths and difficulties questionnaire |
| title | The psychosocial functioning in adolescents with severe obesity evaluated throughout the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ): a preliminary report |
| title_full | The psychosocial functioning in adolescents with severe obesity evaluated throughout the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ): a preliminary report |
| title_fullStr | The psychosocial functioning in adolescents with severe obesity evaluated throughout the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ): a preliminary report |
| title_full_unstemmed | The psychosocial functioning in adolescents with severe obesity evaluated throughout the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ): a preliminary report |
| title_short | The psychosocial functioning in adolescents with severe obesity evaluated throughout the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ): a preliminary report |
| title_sort | psychosocial functioning in adolescents with severe obesity evaluated throughout the strengths and difficulties questionnaire sdq a preliminary report |
| topic | childhood obesity adolescents psychological adjustment psychological wellbeing strengths and difficulties questionnaire |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1205113/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annaguerriniusubini thepsychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT michelabottacchi thepsychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT giovannamorelli thepsychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT giovannamorelli thepsychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT dianacaroli thepsychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT nicolettamarazzi thepsychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT gianlucacastelnuovo thepsychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT gianlucacastelnuovo thepsychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT alessandrosartorio thepsychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT alessandrosartorio thepsychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT annaguerriniusubini psychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT michelabottacchi psychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT giovannamorelli psychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT giovannamorelli psychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT dianacaroli psychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT nicolettamarazzi psychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT gianlucacastelnuovo psychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT gianlucacastelnuovo psychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT alessandrosartorio psychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport AT alessandrosartorio psychosocialfunctioninginadolescentswithsevereobesityevaluatedthroughoutthestrengthsanddifficultiesquestionnairesdqapreliminaryreport |