Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
A existência de experiências adversas na infância encontra-se como fazendo parte do passado
dos sujeitos com obesidade. O presente estudo teve como objectivo principal averiguar a
existência de experiências adversas durante a infância em indivíduos com obesidade mórbida
(grau III) e em indivíduos com obesidade não mórbida (obesidade grau I e II). A amostra foi
constituída por sessenta sujeitos, de ambos dos géneros, com obesidade que frequentaram a
Consulta de Obesidade do Hospital de Santa Maria de Lisboa, sendo que trinta dos sujeitos
tinham o diagnóstico de obesidade mórbida, e os restantes trinta sujeitos apresentavam o
diagnóstico de obesidades não mórbidas. Na recolha dos dados, foram utilizados quatro
instrumentos: Índice de Massa Corporal (Quetelet, 1835) para avaliar os graus de obesidade;
Questionário de caracterização da amostra para obter informação mais detalhada do sujeito;
Questionário da História de Vida (Silva & Maia, 2008) para avaliar as experiências adversas
da infância; Inventário de Depressão de Beck (Beck & Steer, 1996) para avaliar
sintomatologia depressiva. Os resultados demonstram que os sujeitos com obesidade mórbida
referem ter experienciado durante a infância mais categorias de adversidade, relativamente
aos sujeitos com obesidade não mórbida. Não foi encontrada uma associação entre obesidade
e depressão. A existência de experiências adversas durante a infância pode constituir um
factor etiológico da obesidade, o que traz implicações ao nível da prevenção, intervenção e
compreensão desta doença crónica do séc. XXI.
Adverse childhood experiences are known as being part of the obese individual’s life experiences. Tracing the existence of adverse childhood experiences on severe obesity (level III) and non-severe obesity (level I and II) patients was the main goal of the present research document. The study sample was formed by sixty Santa Maria Hospital (Lisbon) Obesity Consultation users, from both genres, from which thirty were diagnosed with severe obesity and the remaining ones (N=30) with non-morbid obesity. Data was collected using four distinct instruments, being Body Mass Index (Quetelet, 1835) – to estimate the obesity levels; Questionnaire on life history (Silva & Maia, 2008) – to weigh different childhood experiences; Beck Depression Inventory (Beck & Steer, 1996) – to evaluate the depressive symptomatology; and a specimen characterization questionnaire. The results indicate that severe obesity subjects are more likely to have experienced higher categories of adverse experiences during infancy then the ones with non-severe obesity. No association was found between the occurrence of obesity and depression. Adverse childhood experiences might then constitute a direct cause for obesity and this awareness might, therefore, bring new approaches to the problematic with respect to prevention, intervention and comprehension of this chronic XXI century’s disorder.
Adverse childhood experiences are known as being part of the obese individual’s life experiences. Tracing the existence of adverse childhood experiences on severe obesity (level III) and non-severe obesity (level I and II) patients was the main goal of the present research document. The study sample was formed by sixty Santa Maria Hospital (Lisbon) Obesity Consultation users, from both genres, from which thirty were diagnosed with severe obesity and the remaining ones (N=30) with non-morbid obesity. Data was collected using four distinct instruments, being Body Mass Index (Quetelet, 1835) – to estimate the obesity levels; Questionnaire on life history (Silva & Maia, 2008) – to weigh different childhood experiences; Beck Depression Inventory (Beck & Steer, 1996) – to evaluate the depressive symptomatology; and a specimen characterization questionnaire. The results indicate that severe obesity subjects are more likely to have experienced higher categories of adverse experiences during infancy then the ones with non-severe obesity. No association was found between the occurrence of obesity and depression. Adverse childhood experiences might then constitute a direct cause for obesity and this awareness might, therefore, bring new approaches to the problematic with respect to prevention, intervention and comprehension of this chronic XXI century’s disorder.
Description
Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no Instituto
Superior de Psicologia Aplicada para
obtenção do grau de Mestre na especialidade
de Psicologia Clínica
Keywords
Obesidade Experiências adversas na infância Depressão Obesity Adverse childhood experiences Depression