Smoking behaviour and dietary restraint in young adolescent women: the role of physical self-perceptions.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship among BMI, smoking consumption, dietary restraint, smoking to control weight, physical self-perception and self-esteem in young female adolescents.


METHODS
702 grade 9 students (14-15 yrs old) completed self-reported validated measures in classroom settings.


RESULTS
26.7% of students had smoked in the last 30 days. Cigarette consumption was low with only 13% smoking one or more cigarettes a day. MANOVA revealed smokers had higher dietary restraint and lower perceptions of physical appearance, conditioning, and self-esteem. A similar pattern emerged for those girls classified as using smoking to control weight. Multiple regression found dietary restraint was predicted by higher BMI, and lower body appearance and self-esteem.


CONCLUSIONS
The data provided converging evidence that girls with low self-perceptions are more likely to engage in health-compromising behaviours. Smoking behaviours and dietary restraint were also linked. However, the small effect sizes for smoking behaviours warrants caution.
Crocker
P
P
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. Pcrocker@interchange.ubc.ca
Kowalski
N
N
Kowalski
K
K
Chad
K
K
Humbert
L
L
Forrester
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*