title: Weighing in on risk factors for body dissatisfaction: a one-year prospective study of middle-adolescent girls.
abstract: Body dissatisfaction is a common problem among adolescent girls that is linked to serious outcomes, including the development of eating disorders. This study tested to what degree five theorized risk factors (weight-related teasing, thin-ideal internalization, body mass index [BMI], self-esteem, and perfectionism) predicted prospective changes in body dissatisfaction. At baseline, 393 10th and 11th grade girls (M=15.8 years) completed questionnaires and had their height and weight measured. One year later, 316 participants' body dissatisfaction was reassessed (80.4% retention). Results suggested that self-esteem was the most potent risk factor, followed by BMI, when used to categorize girls into high- and low-risk groups for body dissatisfaction at follow-up. However, weight-related teasing, thin-ideal internalization, and perfectionism did not prove to be risk factors. These results suggest self-esteem and BMI are relevant variables for helping to identify middle-adolescent girls who may be at risk for subsequent increases in body dissatisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Wojtowicz
authors.forename: Kristin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: von Ranson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002170:Canada; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology; D010379:Peer Group; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012928:Social Desirability; D012945:Social Values; D013851:Thinness / Q000523:psychology