[The level of anxiety and locus of control in women deciding to start a weight loss programme].

Unlabelled: Characteristic for an individual and a relatively constant level of anxiety and internal or external locus of control are personality dimensions that influence the biopsychosocial functioning of an individual and are reflected in his experience and behaviour.
Aim: The aim of this study was to analyse the level of anxiety in women deciding to start a weight loss programme and to find the relationship between the locus of control and the intensity of this anxiety.
Method: Sixty seven women participating in a group-based, interdisciplinary educational weight loss programme were examined using the Locus of Control Questionnaire (Drwal) and the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, Strelau, Tysarczyk & Wrześniewski). The average age of the subjects was 42.88 +/- 10.96 and the average body mass index was 35.98 +/- 5.66.
Results: The level of Anxiety as a State averaged at 5 +/- 2, the level of Anxiety as a Trait averaged at 5 +/- 1.55 and the result in the Locus of Control Questionnaire averaged 7 +/- 1.57. There was a correlation between: age and BMI, (r=0.33; p<0.05), age and state of anxiety (r=0.25; p<0.01), state of anxiety and trait of anxiety (r=0.60; p<0.05), state of anxiety and locus of control (r= 0.41; p<0.05), trait of anxiety and locus of control (r=0.35; p<0.05). In the group of women with lowest BMI their age was also significantly lower than in the other groups. There were no other differences correlating with age across the examined variables.
Conclusions: The level of Anxiety (as a State and as a Trait) in women deciding to start a weight loss programme did not differ from the general population. 1. The results in the Locus of Control Questionnaire were higher than the general population--that means a more external locus of control. 2. There was no correlation between BMI and the level of anxiety or the locus of control. 3. There was a correlation between the locus of control and the anxiety level (state and trait).