Body dissatisfaction prospectively predicts depressive mood and low self-esteem in adolescent girls and boys.
This research examined whether body dissatisfaction prospectively predicted depressive mood and low self-esteem in adolescent girls and boys 5 years later. Participants were early-adolescent girls (n = 440, Time 1 M age = 12.7 years) and boys (n = 366, Time 1 M age = 12.8 years) and midadolescent girls (n = 946, Time 1 M age = 15.8 years) and boys (n = 764, Time 1 M age = 15.9 years). After controlling for Time 1 of the relevant dependent variable, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and body mass index, Time 1 body dissatisfaction was a unique predictor of Time 2 depressive mood and low self-esteem in early-adolescent girls (depressive mood: F = 4.80, p < .05; self-esteem: F = 9.64, p < .01) and midadolescent boys (depressive mood: F = 12.27, p < .001; self-esteem: F = 9.38, p < .01) but not in early-adolescent boys or midadolescent girls. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that body dissatisfaction is a risk factor for depressive mood and low self-esteem in both girls and boys but in different phases of adolescence.
Paxton
Susan J
SJ
La Trobe University, School of Psychological Science, Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. susan.paxton@latrobe.edu.au
Neumark-Sztainer
Dianne
D
Hannan
Peter J
PJ
Eisenberg
Marla E
ME
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors