title: Eating attitudes, body image satisfaction and self-esteem of South African Black and White male adolescents and their perception of female body silhouettes.
abstract: This cross-sectional study of urban high schools in Johannesburg, South Africa, sought to examine eating attitudes, body image and self-esteem among male adolescents (n = 391). Anthropometric measurements, Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), Rosenberg self-esteem, body image satisfaction and perception of females were collected at age 13, 15 and 17 years. Descriptive analysis was done to describe the sample, and non-parametric Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney test was used to test for significant differences between data that were not normally distributed (EAT-26). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient analyses were conducted to test for associations between self-esteem scores and eating attitudes, body mass indices and body image satisfaction scores. To assess the differences between groups that were normally distributed chi-square tests were carried out. Ethnic differences significantly affected adolescent boys' body mass index (BMI), eating attitudes and self-esteem; White boys had higher self-esteem, BMI and normal eating attitudes than the Black boys did. BMI was positively associated with self-esteem (p = 0.01, r = 0.134) and negatively with dieting behaviour in White boys (p = 0.004, r = -0.257), and with lower EAT-26 bulimic and oral control scores in Black boys. In conclusion, the findings highlight ethnic differences and a need to better understand cultural differences that influence adolescent attitudes and behaviour.
authors.affiliation: a Medical Research Council (MRC)/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit , Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand , 7 York Road, Parktown 2193 , Johannesburg , South Africa.
authors.forename: Tabither M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Gitau
authors.forename: Lisa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Micklesfield
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pettifor
authors.forename: Shane A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Norris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000367:Age Factors; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D013019:South Africa; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data