Stigma and obesity : negotiating the transition to adulthood

Abstract

Youth and emerging adulthood is known to be a period of exploratory self-analysis and self-evaluation ideally culminating in the establishment of a cohesive and integrative sense of self or identity (Erikson, 1968; Marcia, 1980; Arnett, 2000). This research is directed at identifying and exploring the experience of weight stigma on young people. It explores how such youths negotiate stigmatised identities in their transition to adulthood. This is done using a qualitative methodology, with the primary goal being the development of an explanatory framework for how eight young obese individuals cope with their weight stigma whilst transitioning to adulthood. The emergent data indicates that in Malta, the tight knit association between high levels of obesity (due to the environment and/ or genetic dispositions) and its related stigma is clearly conditioned by a number of factors which include: widespread bias and discrimination based on weight as documented in key areas of living including; education, and personal relationships. Overall, the results revealed that obese youths face more interpersonal discrimination than average-weight individuals their age. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that negative consequences of interpersonal discrimination include body dissatisfaction, low self esteem and withdrawal from society. Outcomes of the grounded theory analysis attained throughout the study marks this stigmatised period of youth as one of dramatic change and uncertainty and effecting young people's transition to adulthood. This thesis concludes with recommendation for further research, policy and service development.