| This study was designed to add to the limited but growing understanding of the family's role in adolescent obesity. Obese adolescent girls' and boys' families were assessed and compared on the dimensions of cohesion, adaptability, and communication, as measured by the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales. In addition, aspects of obese adolescents' individual communication skills were examined, using the Habit Inventory Communication Subscales. The sample consisted of 174 families (132 females and 42 males) with complete family data.; It was hypothesized that obese adolescent girls' families would be more disturbed than adolescent boys' families. Results of the multivariate analysis of variance revealed no significant differences. An additional analysis, using chi-square test of association, revealed that a significant number of obese adolescent girls' families were characterized by less effective family organization, leadership, and limit setting. It was also hypothesized that extent of obesity in girls would be significantly related to less effective family functioning. Results of the bivariate correlations and multiple regression analysis failed to fully support this hypothesis. However, heavier obese girls were found to be less effective in their ability to assert themselves and express emotions. In addition, it was hypothesized that heavier parents would have more family dysfunction. Results did not support this prediction, although extent of fathers' weight was significantly related to poorer communication skills in daughters. The final hypothesis predicted that extent of parental weight would be significantly related to extent of obesity in the "same" gender adolescent. Multivariate partial correlation coefficients revealed significant weight relationships between mothers and daughters, as well as mothers and sons. Similarly, fathers extent of weight was related to sons as well as daughters.; The findings for this study support the hypothesis that obesity is a family condition. Some obese females' families may have difficulty with certain aspects of parental leadership. In addition, excessively heavy girls may be less effective in their ability to communicate and interact with others. As such, this underscores the need for researchers and treatment providers to understand how obesity uniquely effects each obese adolescent's family. |
