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The effect of an emotional support training program on weight self-stigma and body image among women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Duaa Al Maghaireh, Niven Basyouni, Khitam Alsaqer, Mariam Kawafha, Mohammad A. Al-Ma’ani, Hani J. Hamad, Leen Hamadeh, Heidar Sheyab, Abedelkader Al Kofahi

Nutrition & Food Science

ISSN: 0034-6659

Article publication date: 26 November 2024

Issue publication date: 6 January 2025

42

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of an emotional support training program on weight self-stigma and body image among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design/methodology/approach

A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 200 women diagnosed with PCOS employing a pretest-posttest design. The experimental group, consisting of 100 women, participated in an emotional support training program and received an informational booklet, while the control group (100 women) received only the booklet. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted using weight self-esteem and body shape questionnaires.

Findings

The results demonstrated a statistically significant difference in weight self-stigma and body shape scores between the experimental and control groups following the intervention. For both the immediate post-intervention test [t(198) = 31.1, p = 0.01] [t(198) = 31.1, p = 0.01] [t(198) = 31.1, p = 0.01] and [t(198) = 60.7, p = 0.01] [t(198) = 60.7, p = 0.01] [t(198) = 60.7, p =0.01], as well as the delayed post-intervention test [t(198) = 32.3, p = 0.01] [t(198) = 32.3, p = 0.01] [t(198) = 32.3, p = 0.01] and [t(198) = 70.9, p = 0.01] [t(198) = 70.9, p = 0.01] [t(198) = 70.9, p = 0.01], the experimental group exhibited lower mean scores. Specifically, the experimental group scored 20.3 ± 9.2 for immediate and 20.4 ± 9.3 for delayed assessments on weight self-stigma, and 101.2 ± 7.2 for immediate and 86.5 ± 7.6 for delayed assessments on body shape. In contrast, the control group scored 159.8 ± 6.3 for immediate and 157.6 ± 6.4 for delayed assessments, respectively.

Practical implications

Nurses should be aware of the adverse effects of PCOS and associated obesity on weight self-stigma and body image. They are encouraged to develop targeted emotional support training programs specifically designed to address weight self-stigma and body image concerns in women with PCOS.

Originality/value

This study confirms the effectiveness of an emotional support training program in mitigating the negative effects of weight-related stigma and improving body image perception.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors express their thanks to the healthcare staff members who facilitated the conduct of this study.

Funding: The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Declaration conflict of interest: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

CRediT authorship contribution statement: Duaa Al-Maghaireh – Writing original draft, Visualization, Supervision, Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis, Data curation, Methodology, Conceptualization; Niven Basyouni – Software, Resources, Project administration, Data curation; Khitam Alsaqer – Visualization, Supervision, Methodology, Data curation; Mariam Kawafha – Methodology, Data curation, Formal analysis; Mohammad A. Al-Ma’ani – Writing – review and editing, Validation; Hani J. Hamad – Formal analysis, Data curation; Leen Hamadeh – Formal analysis, Data curation; Heidar Sheyab – Data curation; Abedelkader Al kofahi – Data curation.

Citation

Al Maghaireh, D., Basyouni, N., Alsaqer, K., Kawafha, M., Al-Ma’ani, M.A., Hamad, H.J., Hamadeh, L., Sheyab, H. and Al Kofahi, A. (2025), "The effect of an emotional support training program on weight self-stigma and body image among women with polycystic ovary syndrome", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 55 No. 2, pp. 372-383. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-06-2024-0211

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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