Personal factors associated with health-related quality of life in persons with morbid obesity on treatment waiting lists in Norway

To explore relationships of socio-demographic variables, health behaviours, environmental characteristics and personal factors,
with physical and mental health variables in persons with morbid obesity, and to compare their health-related quality of life
(HRQoL) scores with scores from the general population.

A cross-sectional correlation study design was used. Data were collected by self-reported questionnaire from adult patients
within the first 2 days of commencement of a mandatory educational course. Of 185 course attendees, 142 (76.8%) volunteered
to participate in the study. Valid responses on all items were recorded for 128 participants. HRQoL was measured with the
Short Form 12v2 from which physical (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores were computed. Other standardized instruments
measured regular physical activity, social support, self-esteem, sense of coherence, self-efficacy and coping style.

Respondents scored lower on all the HRQoL sub-domains compared with norms. Linear regression analyses showed that personal
factors that included self-esteem, self-efficacy, sense of coherence and coping style explained 3.6% of the variance in PCS
scores and 41.6% in MCS scores.

Personal factors such as self-esteem, sense of coherence and a high approaching coping style are strongly related to mental
health in obese persons.