Feature Article

Factors Associated With the Satisfaction of Participation in Daily Activities for Adults With Class III Obesity

Mary A. Forhan, PhD, OT Reg (Ontario); Mary C. Law, PhD, FCAOT, FCAHS, OT Reg (Ontario); Valerie H. Taylor, MD, PhD; Brenda H. Vrkljan, PhD, OT Reg (Ontario)

  • OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health
  • Summer 2012 - Volume 32 · Issue 3: 70-78
  • DOI: 10.3928/15394492-20111028-01
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Abstract

There are no guidelines in the obesity or occupational therapy literature to address how participation in occupations of everyday living should be maintained or improved for individuals with obesity. Achieving this goal requires an understanding of the factors associated with participation in daily living activities for this group. To address this, the authors administered a cross-sectional survey that included the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule, the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite, the Medical Outcomes Survey Social Support Survey, and the satisfaction with participation scale to 140 adults with a mean body mass index of 48.5 kg/m2. Multivariate regression analysis resulted in a model containing social support and disability status, which predicted 35% of the variance in satisfaction with participation. Disability status was the strongest predictor of satisfaction with participation and, therefore, interventions that aim to reduce the disability experienced by individuals with obesity have the potential to affect participation in everyday activities.

AUTHORS

Mary A. Forhan, PhD, OT Reg (Ontario), is Assistant Clinical Professor, Mary C. Law, PhD, FCAOT, FCAHS, OT Reg (Ontario), is Associate Professor, and Brenda H. Vrkljan, PhD, OT Reg (Ontario), is Associate Professor, McMaster University, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Rehabilitation Science, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Valerie H. Taylor, MD, PhD, is Psychiatrist-in-Chief, Women’s College Hospital, and Association Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The authors have no financial or proprietary interest in the materials presented herein.

This manuscript was accepted under the editorship of Jane Case-Smith, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA.

Address correspondence to Mary Forhan at forhanm@mcmaster.ca

Received: May 10, 2011
Accepted: September 17, 2011
Posted Online: November 04, 2011

doi: 10.3928/15394492-20111028-01

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