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. 1991 Oct;59(5):739-44.
doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.59.5.739.

Self-efficacy in weight management

M M Clark  1 , D B Abrams, R S Niaura, C A Eaton, J S Rossi
Affiliations

Self-efficacy in weight management

M M Clark et al. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1991 Oct.

Abstract

Self-efficacy is an important mediating mechanism in advancing understanding of the treatment of obesity. This study developed and validated the Weight Efficacy Life-Style Questionnaire (WEL), improving on previous studies by the use of clinical populations, cross-validation of the initial factor analysis, exploration of the best fitting theoretical model of self-efficacy, and examination of change in treatment. The resulting 20-item WEL consists of five situational factors: Negative Emotions, Availability, Social Pressure, Physical Discomfort, and Positive Activities. A hierarchical model was found to provide the best fit to the data. Results from two separate clinical treatment studies (total N = 382) show that the WEL is sensitive to changes in global scores as well as to a subset of the five situational factor scores. Treatment programs may be incomplete if they change only a subset of the situational dimensions of self-efficacy. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

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