Factor structure and measurement invariance of the Weight-Related Abuse Questionnaire (WRAQ).

Weight-related abuse is defined as verbal or physical maltreatment specific to one's weight. The Weight-Related Abuse Questionnaire (WRAQ) is an instrument specifically designed to measure weight-related abuse. The main goal of this research was to study the factor structure and measurement invariance of the Spanish version of the WRAQ in a non-clinical and a clinical sample. The clinical sample included 150 participants with obesity (60 % women) from the Hospital de Valme (Sevilla, Spain). The non-clinical sample included 301 students (79 % women) from the Spanish Open University (UNED). Scales to measure weight self-stigma and fear of gaining weight were used to analyze the convergent validity of the WRAQ. A confirmatory factor analysis showed that a two-factor model (verbal and physical abuse) was an acceptable fit for the data in both the clinical and non-clinical samples. Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis revealed scalar measurement invariance by sample and gender. Cronbach's alpha coefficients and composite reliability for both samples were found to be good, with values ranging from 0.83 to 0.96. Fear of gaining weight was correlated to verbal (r = 0.36, p < .01) and physical (r = 0.12, p < .05) abuse, and weight self-stigma was also related to physical (r = 0.21, p < .01) and verbal (r = 0.41, p < .01) abuse. These results suggest that the WRAQ can be used in clinical and non-clinical samples to assess verbal and physical abuse in both men and women.

A longitudinal study on coping and emotional well-being in cardiac patients.

Emotions and coping play a role in the prognosis of cardiac patients. This two-wave longitudinal study aims to analyze the ability of adaptive and maladaptive coping to predict the emotional well-being of cardiac patients after controlling for their functional physical capacity. Emotional well-being (positive and negative affect), coping strategies, and functional physical capacity were evaluated both at Time 1 (n = 253) and at Time 2 (n = 186), 8 weeks later. At Time 1, positive affect was positively predicted by adaptive coping and negatively predicted by maladaptive coping, while the opposite pattern was found when negative affect was considered. At Time 2, after controlling for sociodemographic variables and for negative affect and functional physical capacity at T1, negative affect was negatively predicted by adaptive coping and positively predicted by maladaptive coping. In addition, positive affect was only predicted by adaptive coping after controlling for functional physical capacity and positive affect at Time 1. Relationships between coping and emotional well-being remain after controlling for the functional physical capacity of cardiac patients, which has a big impact on their emotional state. Finally, it is suggested that specific modules to improve coping and emotional state of cardiac patients should be included in Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (S-WSSQ) in a sample of participants with obesity seeking weight loss treatment.

PURPOSE: Weight self-stigma may be defined as a self-devaluation due to one's identification with the group of people with obesity. The Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ) is an instrument specifically designed to measure weight self-stigma in populations with overweight or obesity. The objective of this study was to adapt the WSSQ to the Spanish population (S-WSSQ) following the guidelines for cross-cultural adaptations. METHODS: The sample comprised 165 participants with obesity seeking weight loss treatment (65% women) at the "Hospital de Valme" (Seville, Spain). Scales to measure life satisfaction, self-esteem, positive and negative affect, and antifat attitudes were used to analyze the convergent and divergent validity of the S-WSSQ. RESULTS: A confirmatory factor analysis showed adequate values of the goodness of fit indexes of a two-factor model (χ2/df = 2.01 CFI = 0.92, IFI = 0.92, SRMR = 0.08, RMSEA = 0.078), replicating the structure found by the original authors. Cronbach's alphas of the two factors were 0.76 (self-devaluation) and 0.77 (fear of enacted stigma). Composite Reliability values were 0.72 (self-devaluation) and 0.76 (fear of enacted stigma). Self-devaluation and fear of enacted stigma were negatively related to self-esteem, and positive affect, and positively related to negative affect and antifat attitudes. Finally, life satisfaction was negatively correlated to fear of enacted stigma. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, it is concluded that the S-WSSQ has good psychometric properties and might be used by the Spanish-speaking scientific community to measure weight self-stigma. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, descriptive study.

The influence of partner appearance in the assessment of a person with obesity: an experimental study.

PURPOSE: This study analyzes whether knowing that a male with obesity has a romantic relationship with a normal weight woman improves impressions about him. METHODS: An online experiment was conducted with a sample of 3024 adult participants (1828 women and 1196 men) with a mean age of 36.11 (SD = 13.49). Each participant was shown two photographs: one of a male target with obesity and one of his female partner (who had either normal weight or obesity depending on the condition). The respondents' sex was added as a fixed factor into the analyses. Physical attractiveness was rated using an item with a scale ranging from 0 to 100. Competence, warmth, and morality were measured using a 17-item adjective list. RESULTS: The target was assessed as more attractive when he had a partner with normal weight (F(1, 3009) = 4.85, p = .028, [Formula: see text] = .002), and was also given higher scores for competence (F(1, 3009) = 4.93, p = .026, [Formula: see text] = .002), warmth (F(1, 3009) = 4.32, p = .038, [Formula: see text] = .001), and morality (F(1, 3009) = 11.16, p = .001, [Formula: see text] = .004). There was a significant interaction between partner weight and the respondents' sex for physical attractiveness, as the difference between the scores in each condition was only significant for women. CONCLUSION: It is possible that women perceived that the male target who had a normal weight partner had a higher status or some hidden quality besides his physical appearance, and thus rated him as more attractive. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, experimental study.

Factor Structure of the Gratitude Questionnaire in a Spanish Sample.

The Gratitude Questionnaire is a short, self-report measure of the disposition to experience gratitude. The Gratitude Questionnaire has been validated in several countries but its factor structure remains controversial. Therefore, the main goal of the study was to examine the factor structure of the Gratitude Questionnaire in a Spanish sample. Two samples were recruited (957 and 920 participants). The confirmatory factor analyses showed that the best fit was the five-item model with errors of item four and five correlated (CFI = .99, NFI = .99, RMSEA = .02). This model demonstrated partial cross-validity based on an analysis of factorial invariance. The Composite Reliability of the five-item Gratitude Questionnaire was .81. In addition, it was found that gratitude was positively related to subjective and psychological well-being. Specifically, the Gratitude Questionnaire was positively correlated to life satisfaction (r = .56, p < .01), affect balance (r = .46, p < .01), self-acceptance (r = .54, p < .01), positive relations (r = .44, p < .01), autonomy (r = .17, p < .01), environmental mastery (r = .49, p < .01), personal growth (r = .36, p < .01), and purpose in life (r = .50, p < .01). According to the results, it can be concluded that the Spanish version of the five-item Gratitude Questionnaire possessed better psychometric properties than the original six-item model.

Perceived Discrimination and Emotional Reactions in People with Different Types of Disabilities: A Qualitative Approach.

The purpose of this study is to assess the discourse of people with disabilities regarding their perception of discrimination and stigma. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten adults with physical disabilities, ten with hearing impairments and seven with visual impairments. The agreement between the coders showed an excellent reliability for all three groups, with kappa coefficients between .82 and .96. Differences were assessed between the three groups regarding the types of discrimination they experienced and their most frequent emotional responses. People with physical disabilities mainly reported being stared at, undervalued, and subtly discriminated at work, whereas people with hearing impairments mainly reported encountering barriers in leisure activities, and people with visual impairments spoke of a lack of equal opportunities, mockery and/or bullying, and overprotection. Regarding their emotional reactions, people with physical disabilities mainly reported feeling anxious and depressed, whereas people with hearing impairments reported feeling helpless, and people with visual impairments reported feeling anger and self-pity. Findings are relevant to guide future research and interventions on the stigma of disability.

Perceived discrimination, self-exclusion and well-being among people with HIV as a function of lipodystrophy symptoms / Discriminación percibida, autoexclusión y bienestar entre las personas con VIH en función de los síntomas de la lipodistrofia

This study examined the effects of perceived discrimination on the well-being of people with HIV and the mediating role of self-exclusion as a function of the participants' symptoms of lipodystrophy. An ex post facto study with a sample of 706 people with HIV was conducted. Selfperception of lipoatrophy and lipohypertrophy, perceived discrimination, self-exclusion and psychological well-being were measured. Results of hierarchical cluster analysis showed participants could be categorized into three groups: no lipodystrophy, mixed syndrome with predominant lipoaccumulation and lipoatrophy. Results of structural equation modeling revealed that the negative effects of perceived discrimination on well-being were mediated to a large extent by self-exclusion. Invariance analysis revealed that the mediating role of self-exclusion was not the same in the three clusters. Complete mediation of self-exclusion in the groups without lipodystrophy and with predominant lipoaccumulation was confirmed. Regarding lipoatrophy, the negative effects of perceived discrimination were greater and only partly mediated by self-exclusion. In conclusion, having lipodystrophy exposed people to more discrimination; lipoatrophy was the most stigmatizing condition (AU)

Este estudio examinó los efectos de la discriminación percibida sobre el bienestar de las personas con VIH y el papel mediador de la autoexclusión en función de los síntomas de lipodistrofia de los participantes. Se realizó un estudio ex post facto con una muestra de 706 personas con VIH. Se midió la autopercepción de lipoatrofia y lipohipertrofia, discriminación percibida, autoexclusión y bienestar psicológico. Los resultados del análisis de agrupamiento jerárquico mostraron que los participantes podían clasificarse en tres grupos: sin lipodistrofia, síndrome mixto con lipoacumulación predominante y lipoatrofia. Los resultados del modelado de ecuaciones estructurales revelaron que los efectos negativos de la discriminación percibida sobre el bienestar estaban mediados en gran medida por la autoexclusión. El análisis de invarianza reveló que el papel mediador de la autoexclusión no era el mismo en los tres grupos. Se confirmó la mediación completa de la autoexclusión en los grupos sin lipodistrofia y con lipoacumulación predominante. Con respecto a la lipoatrofia, los efectos negativos de la discriminación percibida fueron mayores y solo parcialmente mediados por la autoexclusión. En conclusión, tener lipodistrofia expone a las personas a más discriminación; la lipoatrofia fue la condición más estigmatizante (AU)

Factor structure of the gratitude questionnaire in a Spanish sample

The Gratitude Questionnaire is a short, self-report measure of the disposition to experience gratitude. The Gratitude Questionnaire has been validated in several countries but its factor structure remains controversial. Therefore, the main goal of the study was to examine the factor structure of the Gratitude Questionnaire in a Spanish sample. Two samples were recruited (957 and 920 participants). The confirmatory factor analyses showed that the best fit was the five-item model with errors of item four and five correlated (CFI = .99, NFI = .99, RMSEA = .02). This model demonstrated partial cross-validity based on an analysis of factorial invariance. The Composite Reliability of the five-item Gratitude Questionnaire was .81. In addition, it was found that gratitude was positively related to subjective and psychological well-being. Specifically, the Gratitude Questionnaire was positively correlated to life satisfaction (r = .56, p < .01), affect balance (r = .46, p < .01), self-acceptance (r = .54, p < .01), positive relations (r = .44, p < .01), autonomy (r = .17, p < .01), environmental mastery (r = .49, p < .01), personal growth (r = .36, p < .01), and purpose in life (r = .50, p < .01). According to the results, it can be concluded that the Spanish version of the five-item Gratitude Questionnaire possessed better psychometric properties than the original six-item model

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Perceived discrimination and emotional reactions in people with different types of disabilities: a qualitative approach

The purpose of this study is to assess the discourse of people with disabilities regarding their perception of discrimination and stigma. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten adults with physical disabilities, ten with hearing impairments and seven with visual impairments. The agreement between the coders showed an excellent reliability for all three groups, with kappa coefficients between .82 and .96. Differences were assessed between the three groups regarding the types of discrimination they experienced and their most frequent emotional responses. People with physical disabilities mainly reported being stared at, undervalued, and subtly discriminated at work, whereas people with hearing impairments mainly reported encountering barriers in leisure activities, and people with visual impairments spoke of a lack of equal opportunities, mockery and/or bullying, and overprotection. Regarding their emotional reactions, people with physical disabilities mainly reported feeling anxious and depressed, whereas people with hearing impairments reported feeling helpless, and people with visual impairments reported feeling anger and self-pity. Findings are relevant to guide future research and interventions on the stigma of disability

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Spanish adaptation of the patient health engagement scale (S. PHE-s) in patients with cronic diseases / Adaptación española de la escala Patient Health Engagement (S. PHE-s) en pacientes con enfermedades crónicas

Background: The Patient Health Engagement scale is an instrument based on evidence about the experiences and preferences of patients with chronic diseases regarding their engagement with the treatment they receive. Aims: The main goal of this study was to adapt the Patient Health Engagement scale to the Spanish population (S.PHE-s) following the guidelines for cross-cultural adaptations. Methods: The sample comprised 413 patients with different chronic diseases. Results: The confirmatory factor analysis showed a one factor model corresponding to the structure proposed by the original authors. The factor structure was invariant by gender. Furthermore, a Rasch Model showed that the S.PHE-s was unidimensional. In addition, every polychoric correlation coefficient was higher than .60. The Ordinal Alpha of the S.PHE-s was .85. Finally, the S.PHE-s was found to be positively related to life satisfaction, positive affect, and treatment adherence and negatively correlated to negative affect, depression, and anxiety. Conclusions: In light of these results, it may be concluded that the S.PHE-s has good psychometric properties and it may be used by the Spanish-speaking scientific community to measure patient engagement (AU)

Antecedentes: la escala Patient Health Engagement es un instrumento construido en base a la experiencia y preferencias de pacientes con enfermedades crónicas en lo que respecta a su compromiso con el tratamiento que reciben. Objetivos: el objetivo del presente estudio fue adaptar al castellano la escala Patient Health Engagement (S.PHE-s) siguiendo las directrices de las adaptaciones transculturales. Método: la muestra estuvo compuesta de 413 pacientes con diferentes enfermedades crónicas. Resultados: el análisis factorial confirmatorio mostró un modelo unifactorial que correspondía a la estructura propuesta por los autores originales. La estructura factorial era invariante por género. Además, el modelo Rasch realizado puso de manifiesto la unidimensionalidad de la escala. Además, los coeficientes de correlación policóricos eran superiores a .60. El Alpha Ordinal de la escala fue de .85. Finalmente, se encontró que la S.PHE-s estaba positivamente relacionada con la satisfacción con la vida, el afecto positivo y la adherencia al tratamiento, y negativamente con el afecto negativo, la depresión y la ansiedad. Conclusiones: a la luz de estos resultados se puede concluir que la S.PHE-s tiene unas propiedades psicométricas adecuadas y que puede ser usada por la comunidad científica hispanohablante para medir el compromiso de los pacientes (AU)

Spanish adaptation of the Patient Health Engagement scale (S.PHE-s)in patients with chronic diseases.

BACKGROUND: The Patient Health Engagement scale is an instrument based on evidence about the experiences and preferences of patients with chronic diseases regarding their engagement with the treatment they receive. AIMS: The main goal of this study was to adapt the Patient Health Engagement scale to the Spanish population (S.PHE-s) following the guidelines for cross-cultural adaptations. METHODS: The sample comprised 413 patients with different chronic diseases. RESULTS: The confirmatory factor analysis showed a one factor model corresponding to the structure proposed by the original authors. The factor structure was invariant by gender. Furthermore, a Rasch Model showed that the S.PHE-s was unidimensional. In addition, every polychoric correlation coefficient was higher than .60. The Ordinal Alpha of the S.PHE-s was .85. Finally, the S.PHE-s was found to be positively related to life satisfaction, positive affect, and treatment adherence and negatively correlated to negative affect, depression, and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: In light of these results, it may be concluded that the S.PHE-s has good psychometric properties and it may be used by the Spanish-speaking scientific community to measure patient engagement.

Psychometric properties, factorial structure and construct validity of the Spanish version of the Allophilia Scale / Propiedades psicométricas, estructura factorial y validez de constructo de la versión española de la escala de Alofilia

Allophilia may be defined as the positive attitudes toward different out-groups. The aim of this study is to translate and validate the Allophilia Scale to Spanish population. Method: Participants were 960 individuals from all over Spain. Questionnaires to measure prejudice toward North African people, stress and empathy were used to analyze the convergent and divergent validity of the Allophilia scale. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the items of the questionnaire fit a model with five factors, corresponding to the dimensions proposed by the original authors (Affection, Comfort, Kinship, Engagement, Enthusiasm), and that they were inter-related. Cronbach’s alpha of the Allophilia scale and the five factors were high. In addition, it has been found that the different subscales of the Allophilia scale were related with other variables such as prejudice toward North African people (cognitive, emotions and behaviours), stress (interaction, resources, identity) and empathy. Discussion: In light of these results, we conclude that the questionnaire is methodologically valid and can be used by the scientific community to measure cooperative and participatory intergroup behaviour as a complement to traditional measures of prejudice and negative intergroup behaviours

Introducción: La Alofilia puede definirse como las actitudes positivas hacia diferentes exogrupos. El objetivo de este estudio es traducir y validar la escala de Alofilia en población española. Método: 960 participantes de todo el territorio nacional formaron parte de la muestra. Se usaron cuestionarios sobre el prejuicio hacia los magrebíes, estrés y empatía para medir la validez convergente y divergente de la escala de Alofilia. Resultados: El análisis factorial confirmatorio puso de manifiesto que los ítems ajustaban un modelo de 5 factores que corresponden a las dimensiones propuestas por los autores originales (Afecto, Comodidad, Afinidad, Compromiso, Entusiasmo) y que éstos están relacionados. También se halló que los alphas de Cronbach de las diferentes sub-escalas, así como de la escala total, eran elevados. Además, se encontró que la escala de Alofilia se relacionaba con el prejuicio hacia los magrebíes (cognitivo, emociones y comportamientos), el estrés (interacción, recursos e identidad) y la empatía. Discusión: A la luz de estos resultados se concluye que el cuestionario es metodológicamente válido y que puede ser usado por la comunidad científica para medir comportamientos intergrupales cooperativos y participativos y como un complemento a las medidas tradicionales que se centran exclusivamente en el prejuicio y otras actitudes negativas

The Mediational Effect of Weight Self-Stigma in the Relationship between Blatant and Subtle Discrimination and Depression and Anxiety.

Obesity may be considered a social stigma. In addition, people with obesity are frequently aware of stigma directed at others who have a similar weight and come to think stigmatized thoughts about themselves. Our study focused specifically on how blatant and subtle discrimination and weight self-stigma are related to depression and anxiety in people with obesity. The sample comprised 170 participants from the Clinical Nutrition Unit of the "Hospital de Valme" (Seville, Spain). The Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Perceived Discrimination Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used. It was found that blatant and subtle discrimination and weight self-stigma were positively related to depression (.31, .38, and .45 respectively) and anxiety (.30, .36, and .49 respectively; all ps < .01). The path analysis conducted showed that there was a mediational effect of weight self-stigma between blatant (ß = .36) and subtle discrimination (ß = .40) and depression (ß = .24) and anxiety (ß = .49; all ps < .01). According to these results, it can be said that weight self-stigma was a full mediator in the model found because the relationships between the independent and the dependent variables were non-significant. Finally, results are discussed in the frame of the obesity stigma literature, and some clinical implications of the results of the study are suggested.

Physical disgust, germ aversion and antifat attitudes: the mediational effect of perceived controllability of weight / Asco físico, aversión a los gérmenes y actitudes antiobesos: el efecto mediacional de la percepción de controlabilidad del peso

Antifat attitudes refer to stereotyping based on people's weight. A potential explanation for the strong negative attitudes toward obese individuals relates to people's emotional reactions. In this study, conducted with 373 female students, it is suggested that physical disgust, germ aversion and perceived controllability of weight play a central role in explaining the individual differences that exist in antifat attitudes. Our results showed a positive relationship between physical disgust and germ aversion. Additionally, it has been found a positive correlation between physical disgust and perceived controllability of weight. Furthermore, a positive relationship between antifat attitudes, physical disgust and germ aversion was found. Finally, perceived controllability of weight was positively related to antifat attitudes. The path analysis conducted showed the mediational effect of perceived controllability of weight in the relationship between physical disgust and antifat attitudes. Finally, it is discussed the results in the frame of antifat attitudes literature

Las actitudes antiobesos se refieren a los estereotipos basados en el peso de las personas. Una posible explicación de las actitudes negativas hacia las personas obesas se basa en las reacciones emocionales suscitadas por el sobrepeso. En este estudio, realizado con 373 mujeres, se sugiere que el asco físico, la aversión a los gérmenes y la percepción de controlabilidad del peso juegan un papel central en la explicación de las diferencias individuales en lo que respecta a las actitudes antiobesos. Nuestros resultados mostraron una correlación positiva entre asco físico y aversión a los gérmenes. Adicionalmente, se halló una correlación positiva entre asco físico y percepción de controlabilidad del peso. También se encontró una relación positiva entre actitudes antiobesos, asco físico y aversión a los gérmenes. Finalmente, se halló que la percepción de controlabilidad del peso se relacionaba positivamente con las actitudes antiobesos. El análisis path realizado pone de manifiesto que la percepción de controlabilidad del peso media la relación existente entre el asco físico y las actitudes antiobesos. Finalmente, se discuten los resultados dentro del marco de la literatura sobre las actitudes antiobesos

The mediational effect of weight self-stigma in the relationship between Blatant and Subtle discrimination and depression and anxiety

Obesity may be considered a social stigma. In addition, people with obesity are frequently aware of stigma directed at others who have a similar weight and come to think stigmatized thoughts about themselves. Our study focused specifically on how blatant and subtle discrimination and weight self-stigma are related to depression and anxiety in people with obesity. The sample comprised 170 participants from the Clinical Nutrition Unit of the 'Hospital de Valme' (Seville, Spain). The Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Perceived Discrimination Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used. It was found that blatant and subtle discrimination and weight self-stigma were positively related to depression (.31, .38, and .45 respectively) and anxiety (.30, .36, and .49 respectively; all ps < .01). The path analysis conducted showed that there was a mediational effect of weight self-stigma between blatant (β = .36) and subtle discrimination (β = .40) and depression (β = .24) and anxiety (β = .49; all ps < .01). According to these results, it can be said that weight self-stigma was a full mediator in the model found because the relationships between the independent and the dependent variables were non-significant. Finally, results are discussed in the frame of the obesity stigma literature, and some clinical implications of the results of the study are suggested (AU)

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Drive for thinness and pursuit of muscularity: the role of gender ideologies / Impulso a la delgadez y búsqueda de la muscularidad: el rol de las ideologías de género

The female sociocultural beauty ideal is ultra-thin, while the male beauty ideal is related with a muscular body. In this paper it is argued that these differences may be explained by the gender ideology that men and women have. Data obtained from 615 female students (with a Body Mass Index between 18 and 30) revealed that participants high in a gender ideology scale reported greater drive for thinness and less pursuit of muscularity. In addition, women with low scores in a gender ideology scale showed the opposite pattern: high scores on pursuit of muscularity and low in drive for thinness. Finally, it is discussed why men and women adopt different strategies to deal with these beauty ideals.

El ideal sociocultural femenino es ultra delgado, mientras que el ideal masculino tiene que ver con tener un cuerpo musculado. En este articulo se argumenta que estas diferencias pueden ser explicadas por las ideologías de genero que tienen hombres y mujeres. Los datos obtenidos de 615 mujeres estudiantes (con un Indice de Masa Corporal entre 18 y 30) mostraron que las participantes altas en una escala de ideología de género informaban de un mayor impulso a la delgadez y menos búsqueda de la muscularidad. Además, las mujeres con marcadores bajos en una escala de ideología de genero mostraban el patrón opuesto: puntuaciones altas de búsqueda de la muscularidad y bajas en impulso a la delgadez. Finalmente, se discute porqué hombres y mujeres adoptan diferentes estrategias para lidiar con estos ideales de belleza.

Beliefs about obesity and their relationship with dietary restriction and body image perception / Creencias sobre las causas de la obesidad y su relación con la restricción alimentaria y la percepción de la imagen corpora

The reviewed literature provides evidence that beliefs about the causes of obesity may actually have an influence on eating habits. In this work we wanted to analyze the relationship that may exists between beliefs about obesity, dietary restraint and body image perception. For that purpose, 258 female and male students of a High School and Occupational Training School in Seville (Spain) were recruited to conduct the study. According to our results, it was found that beliefs about obesity were positively related with dietary restraint and body image perception. Additionally, it was found that people high in beliefs about the controllability of the weight scored more in dietary restraint and body image perception than participants that did not believe that obesity was under personal control. No differences were found in Body Mass Index. Finally, it is suggested, according to the results that we found, that in order to be effective, public health campaigns may need to target people’s beliefs just as much as they target their behaviours

La literatura revisada pone de manifiesto que las creencias sobre las causas de la obesidad tienen una influencia sobre el comportamiento alimentario. En este trabajo queríamos analizar la relación que puede existir entre creencias sobre la obesidad, la restricción alimentaria y la percepción de la imagen corporal. Con ese objetivo, 258 estudiantes, tanto hombres como mujeres, de un Instituto y centro de Formación Profesional de Sevilla (España) fueron reclutados para hacer el estudio. De acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos, se ha encontrado que las creencias sobre la obesidad estaban positivamente relacionadas con la restricción alimentaria y la percepción de la imagen corporal. Adicionalmente, se halló que la gente alta en creencias sobre la obesidad puntuaba más en restricción alimentaria y percepción de la imagen corporal que aquellos participantes que no creían que la obesidad estuviera bajo control personal. No se encontraron diferencias para el Índice de Masa Corporal. Finalmente se sugiere, en función de los resultados obtenidos, que para incrementar la efectividad de las campañas de salud sería necesario intervenir no solo sobre los comportamientos sino también sobre las creencias

Eating concerns, body dissatisfaction, thinness internalization and antifat attitudes and their relationship with gender ideology in a sample of men / Preocupación por la comida, insatisfacción corporal, interiorización de la delgadez y actitudes antiobesos en su relación con las ideologías de género en una muestra de hombre

Eating disorders are much less common in men than in women. In this paper it is argued that these differences may be explained by the gender ideology that men and women have. Literature suggests that women’s ideology internalizes the social norm of slimness and for that reason may develop eating concerns and body dissatisfaction with the pass of the time, while men externalize the value of thinness and that is why they show greater antifat attitudes than women. Data obtained from 450 male students revealed that participants high in a gender ideology scale reported greater antifat attitudes and less thinness internalization, eating concerns and body dissatisfaction. Finally, it is discussed why men and women adopt different strategies to deal with the social norm of thinness

Los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria son mucho menos frecuentes en hombres que en mujeres. En este artículo se argumenta que esas diferencias pueden ser explicadas por las ideologías de género que tienen hombres y mujeres. La literatura sugiere que las mujeres interiorizan la normal social de delgadez y por esa razón acaban desarrollando preocupación por la comida e insatisfacción corporal con el paso del tiempo, mientras que los hombres externalizan el valor de la delgadez y es por ello que muestran más actitudes antiobesos que las mujeres. Los datos obtenidos de 450 estudiantes varones muestran que los participantes que puntuaban alto en ideología de género informaban de mayores actitudes antiobesos y menos interiorización de la delgadez, preocupación por la comida e insatisfacción corporal. Finalmente se discute porque los hombres y las mujeres adoptan diferentes estrategias para lidiar con la normal social de delgadez

Social Stigma and Well-Being in a Sample of Schizophrenia Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The present study analyzes the existing relationship between three variables related to social rejection (perception of overt and subtle discrimination and stigma consciousness) and the psychological and subjective well-being among people with schizophrenia. Likewise, we will analyze the relationship between two possible strategies to cope with stigma (active coping and avoidant coping) and well-being. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 50 people with schizophrenia recruited from the social care network for people with mental illness in the Community of Madrid. RESULTS: Results show, as expected, the existence of a negative association between the variables related to social rejection and psychological and subjective well-being. It was also found that avoidant coping is negatively related to well-being, while active coping is positively related, although in the latter case relations do not reach significance. CONCLUSIONS: In view of the implementation of interventions to improve the well-being of people with schizophrenia, our results suggest implementing strategies to reduce the perception of discrimination (especially subtle or indirect discrimination) and encouraging the use of active strategies to cope with stigma as opposed to avoidant-coping strategies.

Perceived vulnerability to disease and antifat attitudes in a sample of children and teenagers.

PURPOSE: Perceived vulnerability to disease (beliefs about personal susceptibility to contracting an infectious disease) is usually related to the expression of prejudice towards different stigmatized groups. In this study, the relationship between this variable and the expression of the prejudice towards obese people was analyzed. METHOD: The sample comprised a total of 137 children and teenagers, aged between 12 and 17 years, from a Spanish high school who fulfilled several scales which measure perceived vulnerability to disease, antifat attitudes and perceived controllability of weight. Additionally, body mass index (BMI) was calculated by means of the participants' height and weight. RESULTS: Perceived infectability (one of the factors of the perceived vulnerability to disease scale) was negatively related to controllability of weight, and germ aversion (the second factor of the vulnerability scale), showed a positive relationship with the antipathy towards obese people. Finally, perceived controllability of weight was positively correlated with BMI. CONCLUSIONS: The implications of these results in the field of the study of the prejudice toward obese people are discussed. To our knowledge, no other studies have investigated the relationship between perceived vulnerability to disease and antifat attitudes in minors. Additionally, this is the first time that the measured BMI has been used instead of the self-reported one.