(PTFS04-03-24) Perceived Stress Levels and Intuitive Eating Scores as a Function of Dispositional Mindfulness and Psychological Flexibility in Bariatric Surgery Patients

Objectives: Existing literature indicates that significant weight regain is experienced by 20-50% of bariatric patients, 18-24 months post-op. Maladaptive eating patterns associated with emotional overload, decreased body awareness, and lack of adaptive emotion regulation strategies have been associated with weight recidivism in this population. Approaches that may improve these factors, such as mindfulness meditation, have been suggested. The purpose of this cross-sectional analysis was to evaluate the relationship between intuitive eating, perceived stress levels, dispositional mindfulness, and psychological flexibility in bariatric patients 12-36 months after surgery, while controlling for body weight and age.

Methods: Participants were recruited from a bariatric surgery center through flyers posted in the surgeon's office. Interested subjects were screened via Qualtrics. Participants completed an online cross-sectional survey that included four questionnaires: the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2), the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), and the Short-Form Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (SF-FFMQ). The relationships between PSQ and IES-2 scores and all other measures were estimated using multiple regression analyses. Significant was set at p < .05.

Results: Out of 237 subjects screened, 63 (58%) consented and completed all sections of the online survey. Of the 63 respondents (49 ± 11.7 years of age, 33.28 ± 6.97 BMI), 56 (89%) were female. Participants were primarily Non-Hispanic White (82%). SF-FFMQ scores, AAQ-II scores, weight, and age accounted for 52.1% of the variance in PSQ scores (R² = .521, F = 17.9, p < .0001). AAQ-II scores (ꞵ = .626, p < .0001) and age (ꞵ = -.216, p = .018) significantly predicted PSQ scores. Similarly, SF-FFMQ scores, AAQ-II scores, weight, and age accounted for 29.1% of the variance in IES-2 scores (R² = .291, F = 7.37, p < .0001). SF-FFMQ scores (ꞵ = .371, p < .002) significantly predicted IES-2 scores.

Conclusions: Data collected suggests significant correlations between psychological inflexibility, dispositional mindfulness, age, perceived stress levels, and intuitive eating in bariatric surgery patients. This information may support the development of trainings targeted to improve long-term weight management in this population.

Funding Sources: N/A