title: Sociocultural influences and body change strategies in Spanish adolescent boys of different weight status.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to examine the association between sociocultural influences to attain an ideal body and body change strategies (BCS) in Spanish adolescent boys of different weight status. A total of 594 Spanish boys (M=13.94 years, SD=0.20) participated. Measures included in the study were weight status according to body mass index (BMI), sociocultural influences (perceived pressures to attain an ideal body, general internalization of an ideal body, internalization of an athletic-ideal body), BCS to lose/control weight (dieting, healthy and unhealthy weight-control behaviors), and BCS to gain weight and muscles. Underweight boys engaged more frequently in weight-gain behaviors. Overweight boys reported higher levels of perceived sociocultural pressures and general internalization compared to normal-weight boys, and were more likely to be engaged in BCS to lose/control weight compared with the other weight-status groups. There were no differences between groups in terms of internalization of an athletic-ideal body and BCS to increase muscles. Future research and prevention programs should consider male-specific behaviors and weight-status differences.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research on Children, Youth and Family, Faculty of Social Studies, Department of Psychology, Masaryk University, Joštova 10, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: carlos.almenara@mail.muni.cz.
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Almenara
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychobiology and Methodology of Health Sciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, Spain; Neuroimaging Research Group, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, C/Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: Jordi.Fauquet@uab.cat.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fauquet
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: Gemma.Lopez@uab.cat.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: López-Guimerà
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Unit of the Parc Taulí Health Corporation (CSPT), 08208, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: mpamias@tauli.cat.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pàmias-Massana
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: David.Sanchez@uab.es.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Carracedo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D012938:Social Perception; D013030:Spain; D013851:Thinness / Q000523:psychology*; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: Beauty ideal internalization; Body weight; Males; Overweight; Sociocultural factors; Weight control