Attitudes Toward Obese People: A Comparative Study of Nursing, Education, and Social Work Students.
Attitude
Attitude toward obese person
Belief
Beliefs about obese persons
Obesity
Journal
Journal of professional nursing : official journal of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing
ISSN: 1532-8481
Titre abrégé: J Prof Nurs
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 8511298
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Historique:
received:
30
01
2018
revised:
10
07
2018
accepted:
25
07
2018
entrez:
24
3
2019
pubmed:
25
3
2019
medline:
10
4
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Stigmatization and bias toward the obese population has been studied globally in a variety of professional groups, supporting the existence of negative attitudes and weight bias against this population. Attitudes fostering the prevalence of stigmatization undermine the effectiveness and quality of health care. Studies have not compared attitudes and beliefs of graduate and undergraduate students from professional schools within the same university. As an exemplar, this study compared nursing students' attitudes and beliefs toward obese individuals with students' attitudes in other professional schools. The Attitudes Toward Obese Persons and Beliefs About Obese Persons scales were administered to undergraduate and graduate nursing students and graduate education and social work students at a US northeastern university. Analyses indicated students who were younger; in nursing programs; and reported not having a friend or family member who is overweight had significantly worse attitudes than others. Gender, location of residence, perceptions of own body weight, and participating in an exercise regimen were not significant. Understanding attitudes toward obese people may guide educators as they train nursing, education, and social work students. Reducing negative attitudes, beliefs, and stigmatization is an important starting point in the battle against this growing public health concern.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Stigmatization and bias toward the obese population has been studied globally in a variety of professional groups, supporting the existence of negative attitudes and weight bias against this population. Attitudes fostering the prevalence of stigmatization undermine the effectiveness and quality of health care. Studies have not compared attitudes and beliefs of graduate and undergraduate students from professional schools within the same university. As an exemplar, this study compared nursing students' attitudes and beliefs toward obese individuals with students' attitudes in other professional schools.
METHODS
METHODS
The Attitudes Toward Obese Persons and Beliefs About Obese Persons scales were administered to undergraduate and graduate nursing students and graduate education and social work students at a US northeastern university.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Analyses indicated students who were younger; in nursing programs; and reported not having a friend or family member who is overweight had significantly worse attitudes than others. Gender, location of residence, perceptions of own body weight, and participating in an exercise regimen were not significant.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Understanding attitudes toward obese people may guide educators as they train nursing, education, and social work students. Reducing negative attitudes, beliefs, and stigmatization is an important starting point in the battle against this growing public health concern.
Identifiants
pubmed: 30902406
pii: S8755-7223(18)30105-4
doi: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2018.07.009
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Comparative Study
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
138-146Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.