The Effect of Stress Management Training Provided to Obese Women on Eating Attitudes, Stress, Coping with Stress: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Obesity, which is an important public healthcare issue, can affect womens physical, mental, social health, stress level, and coping negatively. The health professionals must help women cope with the problems they may experience as a result of obesity to reduce these negative effects. Aim: The study was conducted to determine the effects of stress management training provided to obese women on eating attitudes, stress, and coping with stress. Methodology: The sampling of the randomized controlled experimental study based on the pre-test and post-test model consisted of 70 women (experimental 5; control=35) with a Body Mass Index >30, who applied to a Community Health Center Obesity Unit in primary care in Turkey. The data were by using Personal Information Form, Perceived Stress Scale, Styles of Coping with Stress Scale, Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire, and height-weight measurements (Body Mass Index). Results: Statistically significant differences were detected between the women in the experimental and control groups after the training, the Body Mass Index, between the self-confidence, optimistic and social support-seeking approach from the sub-dimensions of Styles of Coping with Stress Scale, and between the extrinsic and restrictive eating behaviors, which are the sub-dimensions of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (p