Body weight satisfaction among New Zealand adolescents: findings from a national survey.
Body dissatisfaction has been extensively studied but, recently, the importance of body satisfaction and its attributing factors has received significant recognition. Also, there is an increasing awareness of the need for research examining body dissatisfaction and satisfaction in youth other than North American females. Thus, the current research examined the prevalence of, and the individual, social, and familial factors associated with, body-weight satisfaction among New Zealand male and female adolescents (n=9107). Data were analysed from Youth '07, a nationally representative survey of New Zealand secondary school students. Overall, half of students were happy with their weight, with significantly more males than females reporting body-weight satisfaction. Students happiest with their weight were most likely to report healthy and supportive social and family environments, as well as higher levels of well-being. These findings are consistent with a growing body of research that suggests creating positive peer and family environments may lead to better developmental outcomes, such as body satisfaction, and also higher levels of well-being.
School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Amanda
A
Wood
Jennifer
J
Utter
Elizabeth
E
Robinson
Shanthi
S
Ameratunga
Theresa
T
Fleming
Simon
S
Denny
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D041923:Adolescent Development; D001835:Body Weight; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D010379:Peer Group; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology