The influence of parent's body mass index on peer selection: an experimental approach using virtual reality.
Relatively little is known about the influence of psychosocial factors, such as familial role modeling and social network on the development and maintenance of childhood obesity. We investigated peer selection using an immersive virtual reality environment. In a virtual schoolyard, children were confronted with normal weight and overweight avatars either eating or playing. Fifty-seven children aged 7-13 participated. Interpersonal distance to the avatars, child's BMI, self-perception, eating behavior and parental BMI were assessed. Parental BMI was the strongest predictor for the children's minimal distance to the avatars. Specifically, a higher mothers' BMI was associated with greater interpersonal distance and children approached closer to overweight eating avatars. A higher father's BMI was associated with a lower interpersonal distance to the avatars. These children approached normal weight playing and overweight eating avatar peers closest. The importance of parental BMI for the child's social approach/avoidance behavior can be explained through social modeling mechanisms. Differential effects of paternal and maternal BMI might be due to gender specific beauty ideals. Interventions to promote social interaction with peer groups could foster weight stabilization or weight loss in children.
Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Corinna S
CS
Martarelli
Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Natalie
N
Borter
Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Fribourg, 2, Rue de Faucigny, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.
Jana
J
Bryjova
Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Fred W
FW
Mast
Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Fribourg, 2, Rue de Faucigny, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland. Electronic address: simone.munsch@unifr.ch.
Simone
S
Munsch
D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010290:Parents; D010379:Peer Group; D012649:Self Concept; D057566:Self Report; D063367:Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy / Q000379:methods*
BMI; Interpersonal distance; Peer selection; School-age children; Virtual reality