Overweight during childhood and internalizing symptoms in early adolescence: The mediating role of peer victimization and the desire to be thinner.
Overweight is associated with depression and anxiety among adults. It is unclear whether this association begins in childhood. Overweight among children is associated with a higher risk of peer victimization, and may mediate an association between overweight and internalizing symptoms. No study has tested this hypothesis in a longitudinal population-based sample using developmental trajectories of overweight in middle childhood.



Data was drawn from the population-based Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development. A three-group trajectory model of overweight development (6-12 years) was previously identified using a semi-parametric group-based approach (n=1678): "early-onset" (11.0%), "late-onset" (16.6%) and "never overweight" (72.5%). Mediation models tested the link between overweight status and child-reported depression and anxiety at 13 years via peer victimization and body dissatisfaction.



Children on an early-onset overweight trajectory were at increased risk for both depression (B=.318, 95% CI=.141;.496) and anxiety (B=.262, 95% CI=.09;.44) at 13 years. These direct associations were mediated by peer victimization and subsequent desire to be thinner. Children on a late-onset childhood overweight trajectory were at increased risk for both depression (B=.332, 95% CI=.187;.477) and anxiety (B=.215; 95% CI=.072;.358) at 13 years, mediated by the desire to be thinner.



We were unable to control for previous levels of body dissatisfaction. Our measure of peer victimization was not specific to weight-based teasing.



Overweight during middle childhood increases risk of early adolescence internalizing symptoms. Peer victimization and body dissatisfaction are partly responsible for this link.
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Canada; Research Unit on Children's Psychosocial Maladjustment, University of Montreal and Laval University, Canada; Ste Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada. Electronic address: laura.pryor@inserm.fr.
Laura
L
Pryor
Research Unit on Children's Psychosocial Maladjustment, University of Montreal and Laval University, Canada; Ste Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada; Department of Psychology, University of Quebec in Montreal, Montreal, Canada.
Mara
M
Brendgen
Research Unit on Children's Psychosocial Maladjustment, University of Montreal and Laval University, Canada; School of Psychology, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada; Institute of Genetic, Neurobiological, and Social Foundations of Child Development, Tomsk State University, Russian Federation.
Michel
M
Boivin
School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada.
Lise
L
Dubois
Research Unit on Children's Psychosocial Maladjustment, University of Montreal and Laval University, Canada; Department of Special Education and Training, University of Quebec in Montreal, Canada.
Christa
C
Japel
CESP, Paris-Sud University, UVSQ, INSERM, Paris-Saclay University, Villejuif, France.
Bruno
B
Falissard
School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Ireland; Departments of Pediatrics and Psychology, University of Montreal, Canada.
Richard E
RE
Tremblay
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Canada; Research Unit on Children's Psychosocial Maladjustment, University of Montreal and Laval University, Canada; Ste Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada; Institute of Genetic, Neurobiological, and Social Foundations of Child Development, Tomsk State University, Russian Federation; INSERM U1219, Bordeaux University, Bordeaux, France.
Sylvana M
SM
Côté
D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001835:Body Weight; D058445:Bullying; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D010379:Peer Group; D011792:Quebec
Anxiety; Body dissatisfaction; Child overweight; Depression; Developmental trajectories; Peer victimization