RESUMEN
El sobrepeso y la obesidad es un problema relevante para las mujeres de NSE bajo chilenas. El estudio evalúa la relación entre autoeficacia para bajar de peso y conflicto decisional, ambas variables relevantes en el cambio de conductas y estilos de vida en salud. En una muestra de 101 mujeres de nivel socioeconómico bajo asistentes a centros de atención primaria de Santiago, que presentaban sobrepeso u obesidad, se midió el nivel de autoeficacia con una escala diseñada para ello y conflicto ante la decisión de bajar de peso. Los resultados indican que la mayoría de las mujeres presentaron baja autoeficacia (63,4%) y alto conflicto decisional (77,2%). Al considerar las variables sociodemográficas, sólo se presentaron diferencias según escolaridad, siendo mayor la autoeficacia en mujeres con escolaridad superior a octavo básico. Se comprobó una asociación inversa entre conflicto decisional y autoeficacia, tanto a nivel general como al considerar las subhabilidades de la autoeficacia.
The problems of being overweight and obese are relevant in the lives of Chilean women of lower socio-economic status. This study evaluates the relationship between self-efficacy for lossing weight and decisional conflict, both of which are important variables in behavioral change and healthy lifestyles. The sample consisted of 101 women of low socio-economic status, being seen at a primary health care clinic in Santiago, and who presented as being overweight or obese. Their level of self-efficacy was measured using a scale designed for this purpose and decisional conflict related to weight loss was also measured. The results indicate that the majority of these women presented low self-efficacy (63.4%) and high decisional conflict (77.2%). Upon considering socio-demographic variables, the only difference observed was related to education, showing increased self-efficacy among those women who had completed eighth grade or higher. An inverse relationship between decisional conflict and self-efficacy was observed overall and when taking into consideration the sub-scales of self-efficacy.