title: Body dissatisfaction and psychological distress in adolescents: Is self-esteem a mediator?
abstract: This brief report tests the mediating effect of self-esteem in the relationship between body dissatisfaction and symptoms of depression and anxiety. A sample of 409 adolescents (females = 58.4%) aged between 14 and 18 years completed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Contour Drawing Rating Scale, the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Overall, results for the indirect effects analysis were significant for both anxiety and depression, which confirmed the mediating role of self-esteem. Thus, a negative perception of one's body image has the effect of lowering self-esteem, which in turn increases psychological distress.
authors.affiliation: 1 Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Canada.
authors.forename: Annie-Pier
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Duchesne
authors.affiliation: 1 Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Canada.|2 CRIPCAS-Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse, Canada.
authors.forename: Jacinthe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dion
authors.affiliation: 1 Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Canada.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lalande
authors.affiliation: 2 CRIPCAS-Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse, Canada.|3 Université Laval, Canada.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bégin
authors.affiliation: 1 Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Canada.
authors.forename: Claudie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Émond
authors.affiliation: 1 Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Canada.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lalande
authors.affiliation: 2 CRIPCAS-Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse, Canada.|4 Université de Montréal, Canada.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McDuff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: adolescents; anxiety; body image; depression; mediator; self-esteem