Peer status and victimization as possible reinforcements of adolescent girls' and boys' weight-related behaviors and cognitions.
OBJECTIVE
Reciprocal longitudinal associations among weight-related behaviors and cognitions and peer relations constructs were examined among adolescent males and females.


METHODS
Participants included 576 adolescents aged 10-14 years, in grades 6-8. Measures assessed body dissatisfaction, negative weight-related cognitions, weight management behaviors, muscle-gaining behaviors, body mass index (BMI), likeability, popularity, and victimization at two time points, approximately 11 months apart. Multiple group path analyses were conducted to examine the reciprocal longitudinal associations between the peer relations constructs and weight-related behaviors and cognitions, controlling for participants' Time 1 BMI, pubertal development, and age.


RESULTS
Higher levels of body dissatisfaction were associated longitudinally with decreases in popularity. Higher popularity and lower likeability each were associated longitudinally with increases in negative body-related cognitions. Higher popularity was associated longitudinally with muscle-gaining behaviors for boys.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest highly popular and disliked adolescents may be at greater risk of weight-related behaviors and cognitions than other adolescents.
Rancourt
Diana
D
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Davie Hall, Campus Box 3270, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3270, USA. rancourt@email.unc.edu
Prinstein
Mitchell J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012056:Reinforcement, Social; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors