ORCID Profile
0000-0003-0463-6711
Current Organisations
University of Western Australia
,
Perth Children's Hospital
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Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 04-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-06-2023
DOI: 10.1186/S12889-023-15780-Y
Abstract: For parents and guardians, assisting children/adolescents with severe obesity to lose weight is often a key objective but a complex and difficult challenge. Our aim in this study was to explore parents’ (and guardians’) perspectives on the challenges they have faced in assisting their children/adolescents with severe obesity to lead a healthy lifestyle. Thirteen parents/guardians were interviewed from a pool of families who had been referred but did not engage between 2016 and 2018 ( N = 103), with the Perth Children’s Hospital Healthy Weight Service, a clinical obesity program for children/adolescents (parent age M = 43.2 years, children age M = 10.3 years). Using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, we identified 3 broad themes. Parental weight-related factors reflected parents’ own lifelong obesity narrative and its effect on their own and their families’ ability to live a healthy lifestyle. Perceived inevitability of obesity in their child reflected parents’ feelings that the obesity weight status of their children/adolescent was a persistent and overwhelming problem that felt ‘out of control’. Lastly, parents reported challenges getting medical help stemming from co-morbid medical diagnosis in their child/adolescent, and difficulties with medical professionals. This study demonstrates that parents face challenges in supporting healthy lifestyle for children/adolescents with severe obesity due to parents own internal weight biases and their negative experiences within the healthcare system when seeking help.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 25-09-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2019
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 17-02-2023
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 16-10-2023
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 20-09-2019
DOI: 10.3390/JCM8101503
Abstract: Research suggests an overrepresentation of autism spectrum diagnoses (ASD) or autistic traits in gender erse s les, particularly in children and adolescents. Using data from the GENTLE (GENder identiTy Longitudinal Experience) Cohort at the Gender Diversity Service at the Perth Children’s Hospital, the primary objective of the current retrospective chart review was to explore psychopathology and quality of life in gender erse children with co-occurring ASD relative to gender erse children and adolescents without ASD. The Social Responsiveness Scale (Second Edition) generates a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) score indicating a likely clinical ASD diagnosis, which was used to partition participants into two groups (indicated ASD, n = 19) (no ASD indicated, n = 60). Indicated ASD was far higher than would be expected compared to general population estimates. Indicated ASD on the Social Responsiveness Scale 2 (SRS 2) was also a significant predictor of Internalising behaviours (Anxious/Depressed, Withdrawn/Depressed, Somatic Complaints, Thought Problems subscales) on the Youth Self Report. Indicated ASD was also a significant predictor of scores on all subscales of the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory. The current findings indicate that gender erse children and adolescents with indicated ASD comprise an especially vulnerable group that are at marked risk of mental health difficulties, particularly internalising disorders, and poor quality of life outcomes. Services working with gender erse young people should screen for ASD, and also provide pathways to appropriate care for the commonly associated mental health difficulties.
No related grants have been discovered for Liz A Saunders.