Gender and weight concerns in early and middle adolescence: links with well-being and family characteristics.
Studied sex and developmental differences in weight concerns in early and middle adolescence and links between concerns and adolescent well-being and family experiences. Participants were mothers, fathers, and older and younger siblings (Ms = 15 and 12.5 years, respectively) from 197, Caucasian, working-middle class, 2-parent families. Parents rated their gender role attitudes and adolescents rated their weight concerns, well-being, gender role orientations, and physical development. Girls reported more concerns than boys; body mass index (BMI) correlated with weight concerns for all youth. Controlling for BMI and pubertal status, weight concerns were linked to older girls' well-being; with physical characteristics controlled, mothers' gender attitudes explained older girls' weight concerns, and siblings' weight concerns explained those of older and younger girls and boys.
McHale
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Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16801, USA. x2u@psu.edu
Corneal
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Crouter
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Birch
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D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors