“I’m only numbers on paper” – A qualitative evaluation of the Internalized Weight Bias Scale in a Swedish sample
(2023) PSPR14 20222Department of Psychology
- Abstract
- Weight-based stigma includes negative stereotypes and negative attitudes directed toward people with obesity or overweight. When internalized, a process also referred to as self-stigmatization, it can have detrimental effects on health. There is currently no instrument to measure internalized weight bias in a Swedish context. Developing such an instrument could be a vital step in improving obesity treatment. The purpose of this study was to perform a qualitative evaluation of the Swedish version of the Internalized Weight Bias Scale as well as to explore its utility. Twelve participants, who have or have had obesity or overweight, were interviewed about their experience of filling out the questionnaire. After transcribing interview... (More)
- Weight-based stigma includes negative stereotypes and negative attitudes directed toward people with obesity or overweight. When internalized, a process also referred to as self-stigmatization, it can have detrimental effects on health. There is currently no instrument to measure internalized weight bias in a Swedish context. Developing such an instrument could be a vital step in improving obesity treatment. The purpose of this study was to perform a qualitative evaluation of the Swedish version of the Internalized Weight Bias Scale as well as to explore its utility. Twelve participants, who have or have had obesity or overweight, were interviewed about their experience of filling out the questionnaire. After transcribing interview recordings, a thematic analysis was conducted, and themes were identified. The findings show that overall, the questionnaire was received positively and perceived as relevant by the participants, with some minor changes. This indicates that self- stigma as conceptualized in the questionnaire is applicable in a Swedish context. A prominent theme was previous negative health care experiences where participants expressed a fear that if the questionnaire were to be used carelessly it could be experienced as part of weight stigma. However, when used mindfully, it was believed to have the potential to provide insight on the experience of self-stigma as well as improve treatment for people with obesity. Based on the findings, suggestions on changes of the questionnaire and recommendations for utility are proposed. (Less)
- Abstract (Swedish)
- Viktstigma inbegriper negativa stereotyper och negativa attityder riktade mot individer med obesitas eller övervikt. Internalisering av viktstigma, en process som också kallas självstigmatisering, kan ha negativa konsekvenser för hälsan. Det finns för närvarande inget instrument för att mäta självstigmatisering i en svensk kontext. Att utveckla ett sådant instrument skulle kunna vara avgörande för att förbättra behandling för obesitas. Syftet med denna studie var att genomföra en kvalitativ utvärdering av den svenska versionen av the Internalized Weight Bias Scale samt utforska dess användbarhet. Tolv deltagare, som har eller har haft obesitas eller övervikt, intervjuades om sin upplevelse av att fylla i formuläret. Efter att ha... (More)
- Viktstigma inbegriper negativa stereotyper och negativa attityder riktade mot individer med obesitas eller övervikt. Internalisering av viktstigma, en process som också kallas självstigmatisering, kan ha negativa konsekvenser för hälsan. Det finns för närvarande inget instrument för att mäta självstigmatisering i en svensk kontext. Att utveckla ett sådant instrument skulle kunna vara avgörande för att förbättra behandling för obesitas. Syftet med denna studie var att genomföra en kvalitativ utvärdering av den svenska versionen av the Internalized Weight Bias Scale samt utforska dess användbarhet. Tolv deltagare, som har eller har haft obesitas eller övervikt, intervjuades om sin upplevelse av att fylla i formuläret. Efter att ha transkriberat inspelningar av intervjuerna genomfördes en tematisk analys och teman identifierades. Överlag visar fynden att formuläret mottogs positivt och uppfattades som relevant, bortsett från mindre justeringar. Detta tyder på att formulärets konceptualisering av självstigma är applicerbart i en svensk kontext. Ett utmärkande tema var tidigare negativa vårdupplevelser där deltagare uttryckte en rädsla att om formuläret skulle användas vårdslöst riskerar det att upplevas som en del av den pågående viktstigmatiseringen. Skulle det däremot användas eftertänksamt skulle det kunna ge insikt i upplevelsen av självstigma och förbättra vården för individer med obesitas. Med utgångspunkt i dessa fynd föreslås justeringar av formuläret och rekommendationer för användning. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9109450
- author
- Johansson, Olivia LU and Andersdotter, Tea LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- PSPR14 20222
- year
- 2023
- type
- H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
- subject
- keywords
- obesity, overweight, self-stigma, internalized weight bias obesitas, övervikt, självstigma, internaliserad viktstigma
- language
- English
- id
- 9109450
- date added to LUP
- 2023-01-31 11:45:28
- date last changed
- 2023-01-31 11:45:28
@misc{9109450,
abstract = {{Weight-based stigma includes negative stereotypes and negative attitudes directed toward people with obesity or overweight. When internalized, a process also referred to as self-stigmatization, it can have detrimental effects on health. There is currently no instrument to measure internalized weight bias in a Swedish context. Developing such an instrument could be a vital step in improving obesity treatment. The purpose of this study was to perform a qualitative evaluation of the Swedish version of the Internalized Weight Bias Scale as well as to explore its utility. Twelve participants, who have or have had obesity or overweight, were interviewed about their experience of filling out the questionnaire. After transcribing interview recordings, a thematic analysis was conducted, and themes were identified. The findings show that overall, the questionnaire was received positively and perceived as relevant by the participants, with some minor changes. This indicates that self- stigma as conceptualized in the questionnaire is applicable in a Swedish context. A prominent theme was previous negative health care experiences where participants expressed a fear that if the questionnaire were to be used carelessly it could be experienced as part of weight stigma. However, when used mindfully, it was believed to have the potential to provide insight on the experience of self-stigma as well as improve treatment for people with obesity. Based on the findings, suggestions on changes of the questionnaire and recommendations for utility are proposed.}},
author = {{Johansson, Olivia and Andersdotter, Tea}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{“I’m only numbers on paper” – A qualitative evaluation of the Internalized Weight Bias Scale in a Swedish sample}},
year = {{2023}},
}