Exploring Factors Associated with Gender Differences in Perceived Stress among Adults with Higher Body Weight in the United States—A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to explore factors associated with perceived stress in adults with higher body sizes. An analysis of data from participants who self-reported higher body weight was conducted (n = 1716). The mean (standard deviation) age was 55.92 (15.94) years and 71.3% and 28.7% identified themselves as women and men, respectively. Gender differences in perceived stress, desire for weight loss, trust in physicians, body affirmation, and perceived weight discrimination were examined. Perceived stress and perceived weight discrimination were significantly higher in women than in men, while trust in physicians and body affirmation was higher in men than women. Trust in physicians and body affirmation were both negatively associated with perceived stress. Perceived weight discrimination and desire for weight loss were both positively associated with perceived stress. Trust in physicians, body affirmation, and perceived weight discrimination were examined as mediators of the observed gender differences between men and women. Trust in physicians, body affirmation, and perceived weight discrimination were significant mediators of the relationship between gender and perceived stress. These results suggest that a possible point of intervention for addressing gender differences in rates of perceived stress among higher body weight adults may be to increase trust in physicians, encourage body affirmation, and reduce weight discrimination.