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A qualitative investigation into life course stages and transitions that can be associated with a high risk of excessive weight gain in men
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2014
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| _version_ | 1867613544411824128 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | De Klerk, Helena Maria |
| author_browse | De Klerk, Helena Maria |
| author_facet | De Klerk, Helena Maria |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2012 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/40190 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:37:50.174Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publishDateRange | 2014 |
| publishDateSort | 2014 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/40190 A qualitative investigation into life course stages and transitions that can be associated with a high risk of excessive weight gain in men De Klerk, Helena Maria esther.vanderspuy@up.ac.za Vogel, H. M. Wenhold, F. A. M. Van der Spuy, Hester Helena Obese men Life course Symbolic interactionism Trajectories Significant others Reference grouothers Physical self Inner self UCTD Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. In this qualitative study excessive weight gain in men is placed in the context of a life course trajectory with its characteristic stages. A combination of symbolic interactionism and life course perspectives was deemed appropriate for studying obesity as their basic assumptions complement each other to create a holistic view of the phenomenon. Both the life course and symbolic interactionism perspectives stress the interaction between individuals and their social environment, an observation particularly evident when viewed as a micro-level experience. The chosen approach emphasises the social creation of meanings about life transitions and individual development. The obese man cannot be seen as an isolated unit as, like all people, he is a social being forming part of a network of relationships. Theoretically those with whom he is socialising can be classified as significant others, general others and reference group others. It is their influence that is important in his personal development and experience of the self. While the symbolic interactionism perspective accentuates the development of the self in interaction with others, the life course perspective gives clarity on the way the individual handles transition experiences in order to regain balance after a time of disequilibrium resulting from different trajectories. The theory of cognitive appraisal used in this study enhanced understanding of the obese man‟s passion for food, and the emotion of joy experienced when busy with food-related activities. Cognitive appraisal takes place in each situation when the obese man needs to make a decision or take action in terms of food and life style behaviour. The strategy of enquiry for this research followed a phenomenological and qualitative approach. The unit of analysis was a white man who was obese. The inclusion criteria for the sample were: being older than 21; and complying with the acknowledged criterion for obesity of having a BMI greater than 30kg/m². A purposive sampling technique was employed with each of the 14 participants being interviewed on more than one occasion. Participants were expected to, and were able to describe their experiences of being obese retrospectively. The researcher made almost exclusive use of lengthy, individual, in-depth, unstructured interviews. Three themes emerged from the data namely the meaning of food, the sadness of obesity and coping with obesity. The findings from this study show that, as a social object, the obese man‟s eating habits and the meaning that food has for him are influenced by, and learnt from others such as his family during childhood and adolescence, and his married partner and work colleagues in young adulthood. Essentially, indulgence in eating is for the anticipated pleasure it brings. Thus several factors like marriage, friends and career influence the food trajectory of the obese man. The obese man‟s food trajectories affect his weight trajectory and have a negative impact on his experience of self. His overweight body gives rise to distressing physical constraints and causes emotional experiences of sadness. He is unable to make peace with his obese state and needs to consciously address the situation. Coping strategies used by the obese participants were critical in their handling of their obesity. In the process of self-appraisal they needed confirmation that they could handle the problem so that it did not influence the way they experienced their physical and inner selves. Regardless of all the coping strategies adopted, the participants were not totally able to handle their plight. It actually got worse and impacted extremely negatively on their well-being. gm2014 Consumer Science unrestricted 2014-06-17T12:59:00Z 2014-06-17T12:59:00Z 2013-04-10 2012 Thesis Van der Spuy, HH 2012, A qualitative investigation into life course stages and transitions that can be associated with a high risk of excessive weight gain in men, PhD thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/40190> D13/4/522/gm http://hdl.handle.net/2263/40190 en © 2012 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | Obese men Life course Symbolic interactionism Trajectories Significant others Reference grouothers Physical self Inner self UCTD A qualitative investigation into life course stages and transitions that can be associated with a high risk of excessive weight gain in men |
| title | A qualitative investigation into life course stages and transitions that can be associated with a high risk of excessive weight gain in men |
| title_full | A qualitative investigation into life course stages and transitions that can be associated with a high risk of excessive weight gain in men |
| title_fullStr | A qualitative investigation into life course stages and transitions that can be associated with a high risk of excessive weight gain in men |
| title_full_unstemmed | A qualitative investigation into life course stages and transitions that can be associated with a high risk of excessive weight gain in men |
| title_short | A qualitative investigation into life course stages and transitions that can be associated with a high risk of excessive weight gain in men |
| title_sort | qualitative investigation into life course stages and transitions that can be associated with a high risk of excessive weight gain in men |
| topic | Obese men Life course Symbolic interactionism Trajectories Significant others Reference grouothers Physical self Inner self UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/40190 |