Differences and similarities in the trajectories of self-esteem and positive and negative affect in persons with chronic illness: an explorative longitudinal study

Figures & data

Table 1 Characteristics of the sample at baseline (N=236)

Characteristics	Obesity (n=139)	COPD (n=97)	P-value	ES
Sociodemographic variables
Age (years), mean (SD)	42.2 (10.4)	64.3 (9.5)	<0.001	2.22
Male sex, n (%)	39 (28.1)	52 (53.6)	<0.001
Education ≥12 years, n (%)	45 (32.4)	26 (26.8)	0.36
In paid work, n (%)	77 (55.8)	24 (24.7)	<0.001
Personal factors
Self-esteem (4–16), mean (SD)	10.3 (2.7)	11.6 (2.4)	<0.001	0.53
Positive affect (1–5), mean (SD)	3.1 (0.8)	3.0 (0.7)	0.55	0.08
Negative affect (1–5), mean (SD)	2.2 (0.8)	1.9 (0.7)	<0.01	0.42

Notes: Probability of differences between the two subsamples as investigated with independent t-test and chi-square (χ²) test. ES values are provided as Cohen’s d. Higher scores for self-esteem, positive affect, and negative affect indicate higher levels on these measures.

Abbreviations: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ES, effect size; SD, standard deviations.

Figure 1 Trajectories of self-esteem in persons with morbid obesity (n=139) and in persons with COPD (n=97).

Notes: Scores are for persons with morbid obesity (solid line) and for persons with COPD (dashed line), controlling for age. Bars are lower and upper 95% CI. Score range is 4–16, where higher scores indicate higher self-esteem.
Abbreviations: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CI, confidence interval.

Table 2 Predictors of self-esteem, positive affect, and negative affect (n=236)

	Self-esteem		Positive affect		Negative affect
	F	P	F	P	F	P
Intercept	189.95	<0.01	227.80	<0.01	123.06	<0.01
Age	0.32	0.57	3.06	0.08	4.83	<0.05
Sex	0.86	0.36	0.00	1.00	0.18	0.67
Work status	5.36	<0.05	0.03	0.86	9.12	<0.01
Time	5.07	<0.01	0.78	0.54	2.49	<0.05
Illness	4.01	<0.05	0.24	0.63	0.90	0.35
Time × illness	4.24	<0.01	1.82	0.13	1.20	0.32

Figure 2 Trajectories of positive affect in persons with morbid obesity (n=139) and in persons with COPD (n=97).

Notes: Scores are for persons with morbid obesity (solid line) and for persons with COPD (dashed line), controlling for age. Bars are lower and upper 95% CI. Score range is 1–5, where higher scores indicate higher positive affect.
Abbreviations: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CI, confidence interval.

Figure 3 Trajectories of negative affect in persons with morbid obesity (n=139) and in persons with COPD (n=97).

Notes: Scores are for persons with morbid obesity (solid line) and for persons with COPD (dashed line), controlling for age. Bars are lower and upper 95% CI. Score range is 1–5, where higher scores indicate higher negative affect.
Abbreviations: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CI, confidence interval.