Social engagement in adolescence moderates the association between weight status and body image.
This study examined whether the association between adolescent weight status and body image varies by social engagement. A nationally representative sample of 6909 students in grades 6-10 completed the 2006 HBSC survey. Separate linear regressions for boys and girls, controlling for age, race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status, were conducted with an interaction term (weight status×social engagement). Adolescents' overweight/obese status was related to body dissatisfaction. Social engagement moderated the relationship between weight status and body image for girls but not for boys. Overweight/obese boys had more body dissatisfaction compared to their normal/underweight peers, regardless of their social engagement. However, overweight/obese girls with more social engagement were more likely to have body satisfaction compared to overweight/obese girls with less social engagement. Encouraging adolescent girls to develop healthy relationships with peers may prevent them from developing body dissatisfaction.
Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-2018, USA. caccavalelj@vcu.edu
Laura J
LJ
Caccavale
Tilda
T
Farhat
Ronald J
RJ
Iannotti
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology; D010379:Peer Group; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires