The Role of Weight Stigma in Healthcare Avoidance and Mistrust Among Pregnant Women

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dc.contributor.advisorCarels, Robert A
dc.contributor.authorByrd, Rhonda
dc.contributor.departmentPsychology
dc.date.accessioned2023-06-05T14:03:56Z
dc.date.created2023-05
dc.date.issued2023-04-13
dc.date.submittedMay 2023
dc.date.updated2023-06-02T15:40:38Z
dc.degree.departmentPsychology
dc.degree.disciplineMA - Psychology
dc.degree.grantorEast Carolina University
dc.degree.levelMasters
dc.degree.nameM.A.
dc.description.abstractPast research has indicated a multitude of negative outcomes related to experiencing and internalizing weight stigma (Alberga et al., 2016; Hayward et al., 2018; Latner et al., 2014). Weight stigma is sometimes experienced in healthcare contexts, thus negatively impacting relationships between patients and providers (Mensinger et al., 2018). In recent years, the number of pregnant women with overweight and obesity has steadily increased (CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, 2020), and the potential impact of weight stigma in healthcare settings is understudied in this population (Incollingo Rodriguez et al., 2021). The current thesis project aimed to examine the relationship between pre-pregnancy BMI, trust in one's healthcare provider, and healthcare avoidance. This project examined experienced stigma in healthcare and internalized weight bias as potential mediators of the relationship between pre-pregnancy BMI, trust in healthcare provider, and healthcare avoidance. In the current study, there was no relationship between a woman's pre-pregnancy BMI and her frequency of experiencing stigmatizing situations. Women with a higher pre-pregnancy BMI did report greater levels of internalized weight bias. Further, for women reporting higher levels of both experienced and internalized stigma, trust in provider was lower, and healthcare avoidance was greater. There was no evidence of mediation, except for evidence of partial mediation in the model of avoidance related to body exam discomfort. Of note, it was observed that IWB acted as a suppressor variable rather than a mediator in all other models. This thesis adds to the current literature on pregnant women and weight stigma as it relates to healthcare experiences.
dc.embargo.lift2024-06-25
dc.embargo.terms
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10342/12865
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherEast Carolina University
dc.subjectweight stigma
dc.subjectweight bias
dc.subjectpregnancy
dc.subjecthealthcare avoidance
dc.subjectmedical mistrust
dc.subjectinternalized weight bias
dc.subject.lcshPregnant women--Attitudes
dc.subject.lcshStigma (Social psychology)
dc.subject.lcshDiscrimination against overweight persons
dc.subject.lcshObesity in women--Health and hygiene
dc.subject.lcshPhysician and patient
dc.titleThe Role of Weight Stigma in Healthcare Avoidance and Mistrust Among Pregnant Women
dc.typeMaster's Thesis
dc.type.materialtext

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Master's Theses
Psychology