Counselling Psychology in a Changing National Health Service
Aim Within the field of obesity, evidence shows that weight regain following weight loss is extremely common, demonstrating that weight loss treatments are not effective. Considering that attachment history influences a person’s capacity for emotional regulation and that some people use food to self-soothe, increasing our understanding of the relationship between attachment style and obesity might inform better treatments. This study is comprised of two parts: the first part investigates whether attachment style predicts outcome in a 12-session group treatment for obesity and the second part explores the experience of that treatment. Design The study utilises a mixed methods design with participants from a group treatment for obesity which comprises: the Attachment Style Questionniare (ASQ), completed by 52 group members, along with their body mass index (BMI) measures at the start and end of the treatment, analysed using a backwards multiple regression to test whether the 5 dimensions of the ASQ can predict participants’ change in BMI; and semi-structured interviews with 7 people from the same treatment analysed according to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) guidelines. Method Data was collected from 52 people attending group treatment for obesity with an NHS service in South East England, which included the ASQ and BMI measures at Week 1 and Week 12 of treatment. The change in BMI was entered as the dependent variable for the regression in SPSS and the five attachment dimensions were entered as predictors. 7 people who had taken part in Part I of this research participated in interviews about their group experience. Transcripts were subjected to IPA. Results Quantitative findings produced a model in which the ASQ dimension Confidence (in relationships) significantly predicted change in BMI in a negative direction (i.e. the participants who scored higher on Confidence lost less weight than those with lower scores). Confidence explained 8% of the variance (R2=0.08, F(1,50)=4.32, p<0.05). Qualitative findings produced four super-ordinate themes which included: the sadness at the course ending; the support and comfort felt from others in the group experience; the positive aspects of the group treatment; and the negative aspects of the group treatment. Other group members appeared to have a substantial impact on participants, whether positive or negative. Some accounts reflected the importance of others in feeling accepted and supported. Other accounts conveyed less of an emphasis on feeling part of the group and more on feeling separate. Conclusions The quantitative results are inconclusive and possible reasons for this are discussed. The qualitative findings suggest that it is likely that group intervention for obesity could be improved by attention to attachment and by tailoring treatments more specifically to individuals.
BF Psychology, RA Public aspects of medicine
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