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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12202/3647
Title: | Predicting attrition in weight control among older adults |
Authors: | Kelly, Linda DeVito |
Keywords: | Clinical psychology. Experimental psychology. Gerontology. |
Issue Date: | 1994 |
Publisher: | ProQuest Dissertations & Theses |
Citation: | Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-02, Section: B, page: 1444. |
Abstract: | The present study hypothesized that a combination of variables would predict adherence in older individuals enrolled in a weight control program, "Dietary Interventions: Evaluation of Technology" (D.I.E.T.). A sample of 150 older adults (mean age = 71.3 years) in the program were characterized as: refusing treatment ("refusers"), dropping out in the intensive 10-week phase of treatment ("early drop-outs"), dropping out in the follow-up phase of treatment ("late drop-outs") and completing treatment ("completers"). Stepwise discriminant function analysis yielded five psychological predictors of leaving treatment (in order of magnitude): perceived health, exercise self-efficacy, concern with dieting, psychological well-being and weight fluctuation. Perceived health and exercise self-efficacy were the most influential discriminators, and early and late drop-outs were the best discriminated. Refusers and completers were found to be more similar than different. Moderate, not high scores were predictive of completing treatment. Early drop-outs reported high perceived health, low exercise self-efficacy, a high concern for dieting, high psychological well-being and high weight fluctuation. In addition, early drop-outs reported the longest history of dieting, while late drop-outs reported the shortest. Post-treatment, noncompleter groups reported similar reasons for leaving. Despite this, baseline psychological predictors were found to be useful in discriminating adherence status, particularly that of drop-outs. Interpretations of each group's profile are provided. In addition, the clinical utility of these findings as well as suggestions for treatment are offered. |
URI: | https://ezproxy.yu.edu/login?url=http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqm&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:9616793 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12202/3647 |
Appears in Collections: | Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology: Doctoral Dissertations |
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