Behavioral problems, self-awareness and family factors in children with simple obese

Abstract

Objective To investigate the the association between psychological behavior and self-awareness of obese children and family factors, in order to provide scientific basis for clinical intervention in obese children. Methods Fifty children with obesity(obesity group) and fifty healthy children(control group) were included in the study.All children were evaluated with the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist(CBCL), Piers-Harris Child's self-concept Scale(PHCSS), Family Environment Scale-Chinese Version (FES-CV) and Egma Minnen av Bardndosnauppforstran(EMBU). Moreover, correlation analysis was applied in the study to explore family factors affecting behavioral problems and self-awareness of obese children. Results Compared with control group, significant higher ratio of abnormal behaviors was found in children with obesity (P<0.05). FES-CV showed that the degree of expressiveness((3.16±1.93), (4.65±1.02)), intellectual-cultural orientation((5.31±1.28), (6.10±1.83)) and active-recreational((2.78±1.36), (4.84±1.72)) were lower than control group, and the degree of family conflict((4.11±1.45), (3.32±1.27)) and control((6.42±1.37), (5.09±1.65)) were higher in children with obesity (P<0.05). Moreover, EMBU showed that emotional warmth score was significantly lower in obese group than that in control group(P<0.01), and the scores of parent's rejection, father's severity, parent's over-interference, and mother's over-protection were significantly higher than the scores in control group(P<0.05). In obese group, the correlation analyses showed a negative association between social withdrawal in children's behavioral problems and family expressiveness (r=-0.62, P<0.01), and a positive association between aggressivity and family conflict (r=0.39, P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between internalizing behavioral problems and mother's over-protection and over-interference(r=0.60, P<0.01). Low self-awareness was positive associated with parent's rejection and father's severity(r=0.46, 0.51, 0.44 respectively, P<0.05). Conclusion A significant higher risk of abnormal psychological behaviors and low self-concept can be found in children with obesity, which can closely related to family factors. Key words: Children; Obesity; Psychological behavior; Self-awareness; Family factors.