title: Do body-related shame and guilt mediate the association between weight status and self-esteem?
abstract: Individuals who are overweight or obese report body image concerns and lower self-esteem. However, little is known about the mechanisms underpinning these associations. The objective of this study was to test body-related shame and guilt as mediators in the association between weight status and self-esteem. Young adult participants (n = 790) completed assessments of self-esteem and body-related guilt and shame, and weight status indicators were measured by trained technicians. Findings from multiple mediation analyses suggest that body-related shame mediates the relationship between weight status and self-esteem. If replicated in longitudinal studies, these findings suggest that reducing body-related emotions may have important implications for improving self-esteem in clinical weight management.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pila
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Canada catherine.sabiston@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sabiston
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, Canada.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brunet
authors.affiliation: Concordia University, Canada.
authors.forename: Andree L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Castonguay
authors.affiliation: Université de Montréal, Canada.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Loughlin
mesh_terms: D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012649:Self Concept; D012752:Shame; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: mediation; obesity; self-conscious emotions; self-esteem; weight status