Hope as a Predictor of Initial Treatment Response in a Pediatric Weight Management Program

Abstract

ABSTRACT Jason Van Allen Clinical Child Psychology Program Departments of Applied Behavioral Sciences and Psychology, August 2009 University of Kansas The dramatic increase in pediatric overweight and obesity in the last two decades has lead researchers and clinicians to develop a number of treatment interventions. In addition, researchers have also examined individual factors that have been associated with positive outcomes in these weight-loss interventions. The present study was designed to examine an individual factor, hope, and its relationship with outcomes in "Positively Fit", a weight-management program for children ages seven to seventeen. This study consisted of 73 participants measured for height and weight (to determine BMI percentiles), and who completed a measure of hope. Statistical analyses indicated that hope was not significantly predictive of change in BMI at the conclusion of treatment. Future research would benefit from an evaluation of parent - along with child - hope scores, and from utilizing a state hope scale that is specific to the weight-management context.