title: Experimental investigation of parents and their children's social interaction intentions towards obese children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine if parent intentions to facilitate social interactions between their child and a peer, or parental perceptions of their child's peer social interaction intentions, differ according to the weight status of a child's peer.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a telephone survey, 250 Australian parents of children 5-12 years were randomly assigned to listen to one of two descriptions of a hypothetical child differing by group in the description of child weight status ('quite overweight' or 'healthy weight'). Parents then completed the Social Interaction Intention Scale, which assessed how likely they or their child would engage in a number of behaviours that may facilitate social interaction with the child described in the profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Means scores on the overall scale and the child sub-scale of the Child Social Interaction Intention Scale were significantly higher among participants allocated to the healthy weight child profile, indicating more positive social intentions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that negative weight-based stereotypes hinder the development of peer friendships by obese children.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan. luke.wolfendesn@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wolfenden
authors.forename: Alyce
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McKeough
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paolini
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wye
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puhl
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity; D010290:Parents; D012919:Social Behavior
keywords: child; obesity; paediatric; stigma; weight bias