A test of the stress-buffering hypothesis of social support among bariatric surgery patients.

Abstract

The buffering effect of social support against a range of stress-related health outcomes has been well-documented; however, no previous work has examined the applicability of this model to bariatric surgery outcomes. The present study sought to address whether social support interacts with stress in predicting postsurgical outcomes, as well as whether these associations may vary by sex. Teaching hospital, United States. Data were collected using retrospective chart review (n = 548). Stress, patient sex, and social support were explored as predictors of curvilinear weight loss trajectories during the first year after surgery using growth curve modeling. Attendance at follow-up appointments was poor, with 250 patients at 6 months and 187 at 12 months. On average, these patients lost 27% of their total weight between baseline and the 12-month follow-up. Overall, weight-related emotional support appeared to be most relevant to weight loss/maintenance in this population; cohabitating with a spouse or significant other and attendance at support group meetings did not predict weight loss or show any significant interactions with stress. The present study found only partial support for the stress-buffering model of social support among bariatric surgery patients. Such findings have important implications for assessment and follow-up care after bariatric surgery, as well as for future research in this area.