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Factors associated with depression and anxiety symptoms among children seeking treatment for obesity: A social‐ecological approach
Author(s) -
Sheinbein Daniel H.,
Stein Richard I.,
Hayes Jacqueline F.,
Brown Mackenzie L.,
Balantekin Katherine N.,
Conlon Rachel P. Kolko,
Saelens Brian E.,
Perri Michael G.,
Welch R. Robinson,
Schechtman Kenneth B.,
Epstein Leonard H.,
Wilfley Denise E.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
pediatric obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.226
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 2047-6310
pISSN - 2047-6302
DOI - 10.1111/ijpo.12518
Subject(s) - anxiety , psychopathology , depression (economics) , overweight , medicine , obesity , psychiatry , clinical psychology , mental health , economics , macroeconomics
Summary Background Children with overweight/obesity are more likely to exhibit symptoms of depression and anxiety than are their peers without overweight/obesity; however, the rates and correlates of depression and anxiety symptoms among children seeking obesity treatment remain unclear. Objectives Examine the prevalence and associated factors of depression and anxiety symptoms among treatment‐seeking children with overweight/obesity. Methods Children 7 to 11 years old (N = 241) and their parents completed assessments before beginning family‐based behavioral weight‐loss treatment. Disorder‐specific self‐report questionnaires assessed child depression and anxiety. The social‐ecological model served as a framework for examining factors associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. Results Among our sample, 39.8% (96/241) met clinical cutoffs for depression and/or anxiety symptomatology. Specifically, of these 96, 48 met criteria for both depression and anxiety, 24 for depression only, and 24 for anxiety only. Child eating disorder pathology, parents' use of psychological control (ie, a parenting style characterized by emotional manipulation), and lower child subjective social status were significantly associated with greater child depression symptomatology. Child eating disorder pathology and parent psychological control were significantly associated with greater child anxiety symptomatology. Conclusion Nearly 40% of children exhibited psychopathology symptoms, and a variety of correlates were found. Thus, pediatric weight‐loss providers may consider screening for and addressing mental health concerns (and associated factors) prior to and during treatment.