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Weight stigma is associated with provider-patient relationship factors and adherence for individuals with hypothyroidism.

Morgan SnyderKelly B Haskard-ZolnierekKrista HowardYueqin Hu
Published in: Journal of health psychology (2020)
The goal of this study was to examine weight stigma experiences during medical visits as related to provider-patient relationship factors and adherence among individuals with hypothyroidism. A total of 362 participants recruited via social media participated in an online survey. Regression and mediation analyses indicated that weight stigma was negatively associated with adherence; this relationship was mediated by decreased trust in provider, less perceived provider empathy, and lower provider-patient depth-of-relationship. Structural equation modeling with BMI controlled revealed that weight stigma is associated with worsened provider-patient relationship and adherence. Findings suggest the importance of eliminating weight stigma experiences for patients.
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