The evaluation of psychopathology and quality of life in obese children and adolescents and parenting styles of their parents.

This study aims to investigate the psychopathology, quality of life, perception, eating behaviours and self-image of children and adolescents who were diagnosed with obesity; as well as their parents behaviours, coping skills and the relations between these conditions. Our study was conducted on 30 patients between the age of 8 -18 years who consulted the University of Akdeniz Pediatric Endocrinology Department and had BMI standard deviation above 2 and had no mental retardation or previous psychiatric consultations. A control group were included of 30 healthy children and adolescents who were matched on gender and age with the patient group, and had no previous medical or psychiatric illnesses. Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version was applied to both groups, and the Rosenberg Self Image Scale was used to determine their self-images. The Quality of Life Scale for Children was applied to the children and adolescents as well as their parents. To determine the methods of child rearing and coping strategies with stress, parents were given the Family Life and Child Rearing Demeanours Scale and the Coping Strategies Scale. There were no significant sociodemographic differences between the two groups except for parents' educational level and socioeconomic status. While no differences were found on parenting styles and coping strategies, a higher percentage of psychiatric illnesses were detected and the quality of life perception of parents was found lower in the obese group. Self-image scores were not varied between obese children and healthy controls. When mothers of the two groups were compared, higher obesity was observed in the mothers of the obese children. Keywords: Obesity, Psychopathology, Parents' Behaviours, Coping Strategies, Children Adolescents