Longitudinal analysis of weight perception and psychological factors in Chinese adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate associations of overweight status and perception with trajectories of psychological distress in adolescents.


METHODS
Longitudinal data for 6970 Chinese adolescents were included. The multivariate curve-of-factor latent growth curve models were adopted to examine trajectories of psychological distress symptoms and associations with overweight status and perception.


RESULTS
After controlling for actual overweight status, psychological distress symptoms were weakly but significantly associated with overweight perception (γ = 0.08 for boys and γ = 0.10 for girls, P < 0.05) and misperception (γ = 0.06 for boys and γ = 0.09 for girls, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings help understanding associations of overweight perception and psychological well being of adolescents.
Xie
Bin
B
School of Community and Global Health, Claremont Graduate University, San Dimas, CA 91773, USA. bin.xie@cgu.edu
Chou
Chih-Ping
CP
Spruijt-Metz
Donna
D
Reynolds
Kim
K
Palmer
Paula H
PH
Wu
Qiaobing
Q
Gallaher
Peggy
P
Johnson
C Anderson
CA
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*