title: Heterosocial involvement, peer pressure for thinness, and body dissatisfaction among young adolescent girls.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine longitudinal connections among young adolescent heterosocial involvement (i.e., mixed-sex interactions), peer pressure for thinness, and body dissatisfaction. Three years of self-report questionnaire data were collected from 88 adolescent girls as they completed 6th through 8th grades. Results indicated that the relation between heterosocial involvement and body dissatisfaction was mediated by perceived peer pressure for thinness. Within this model, heterosocial involvement was associated with greater peer pressure for thinness. In turn, peer pressure for thinness was associated with greater body dissatisfaction. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for prevention and intervention efforts aimed at girls during their middle-school years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. dgondoli@nd.edu
authors.forename: Dawn M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Gondoli
authors.forename: Alexandra F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Corning
authors.forename: Elizabeth H Blodgett
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Salafia
authors.forename: Michaela M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bucchianeri
authors.forename: Ellen E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Fitzsimmons
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010379:Peer Group; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D057566:Self Report; D012919:Social Behavior; D012925:Social Conformity; D012928:Social Desirability; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013851:Thinness / Q000523:psychology*