title: Mothers' and daughters' beliefs about factors affecting preadolescent girls' body satisfaction.
abstract: Body dissatisfaction is common in preadolescent girls. In this qualitative study, preadolescent girls (N=145) wrote descriptions of factors that made them feel good and bad about their bodies. Their mothers (N=145) also wrote about factors they believed made their daughters feel good and bad about their bodies. Statements were coded using thematic analysis. Chi-square analyses examined mother-daughter dyad agreement, and differences in influential factors based on ethnic identity. Despite general agreement in overall themes, results indicated limited agreement within mother-daughter dyads. Specifically, one significant result was detected: mothers and their daughters agreed on the importance of teasing as a negative influence on body satisfaction. There was one significant difference based on ethnic identity, with Hispanic girls mentioning more frequently than White girls that physical activity/exercise helped them feel good about their bodies. Recommendations are made for family-based interventions to support the body image of preadolescent girls.
authors.affiliation: University of New Mexico, Psychology Department, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. Electronic address: emcl@unm.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.affiliation: University of New Mexico, Psychology Department, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. Electronic address: kbelon@unm.edu.
authors.forename: Katherine E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Belon
authors.affiliation: University of New Mexico, Psychology Department, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. Electronic address: janellen@unm.edu.
authors.forename: Jane Ellen
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: University of New Mexico, Psychology Department, MSC03 2220, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. Electronic address: erickson@unm.edu.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Erickson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009679:Nuclear Family / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body dissatisfaction; Body image; Mother; Preadolescence; Qualitative