Body-Esteem in Swedish 10-Year-Old Children

Disordered eating in a 10-year perspective from adolescence to young adulthood: Stability, change, and body dissatisfaction as a predictor

INTRODUCTION

Although there are many studies of disordered eating (DE) in adolescence, studies examining the longitudinal stability and change of DE and its longitudinal associations with other factors are still rather scarce. Such studies are important to inform parents and clinicians how stable DE is and to what extent it will go away with increased maturity. Longitudinal studies may also be of help in establishing predictors of long-term problems. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the stability of DE over a 10-year period from early adolescence to young adulthood, and to explore body dissatisfaction as a predictor in a 10-year perspective.

METHODS

Data were taken from a three-wave longitudinal project (SoL) with survey data collected among the students in Grades 7and 8 in a Swedish municipality in 2007 (T1), 1 year later (T2), and in a 10-year follow-up in 2017 (T3). DE was measured by the eight-item version of the Risk Behaviour Related to Eating Disorders (RiBED-8), and a quasi-clinical criterion of six or more critical answers on the RiBED-8 was used to classify DE cases.

RESULTS

Of the girls, 5.8% passed the cutoff for DE at T1, whereas 9.1% did so at T2 and 7.9% at T3. The boys showed markedly lower figures: 0.5% both at T1 and T2, and 1.5% at T3. There was significant individual stability of DE over the 10-year period, with almost 30% of the girls who passed the cutoff for DE at T1 also doing so 10 years later. Body dissatisfaction in early adolescence predicted the incidence of new cases of DE 10 years later, even when controlling for degree of DE in early adolescence. The results also indicate that DE in early adolescence may be a passing phase among adolescents who express relatively high body satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

The present results show a complex picture of different individual trajectories of DE, with degree of body satisfaction playing a significant role for the outcome in a 10-year perspective. Body dissatisfaction appears to be a risk factor for the development of new cases of DE, whereas body satisfaction may protect against the continuation of DE into adulthood.

The effect of implant loss after immediate breast reconstruction on patient satisfaction with outcome and quality of life after five years - a case-control study

Several advantages have been suggested for immediate breast reconstruction (IBR); however, there is little scientific high-quality evidence confirming those advantages. Disadvantages of IBR, compared to delayed breast reconstruction (DBR), include an increased risk for complications, such as implant loss (prevalence 5-10% vs. 1%). Little is known on how women experience implant loss and how it affects patients' long-term satisfaction and quality of life (QoL). The primary aim of our study was to compare patient satisfaction and QoL of women with implant loss after IBR, with that of women with a successful IBR. Breast-Q, Body Esteem Scale for Adults and Adolescents (BESAA) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were sent to women who had experienced implant loss during the last 10 years. Women of a similar age who were reconstructed, without complications, during the same period were controls. The results suggest that there might be a more permanent negative effect on satisfaction and QoL following implant loss. The proportion of possible cases of depression was higher among patients who had experienced implant loss. The findings could indicate that in patients with an elevated risk for implant loss, the possible benefits with IBR should be carefully balanced against the effects of implant loss.

A comic-based body image intervention for adolescents in semi-rural Indian schools: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Adolescents in India experience body dissatisfaction, however, empirically supported interventions are lacking. This paper describes the protocol for the development, acceptability testing, and cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a six-session comic-based intervention, which aims to improve body image and related outcomes among adolescents in semi-rural Indian schools. If found to be acceptable and effective, UNICEF will disseminate the intervention across schools in eight states of India. The acceptability study will be conducted with 24 students in Classes 6-8 (age 11-14) and nine teachers from Hindi-medium government schools using interviews and focus groups. The subsequent RCT will be conducted with 2400 students, with schools randomized to either the comic-based intervention or lessons-as-usual (control) groups. The primary outcome is body esteem, and secondary outcomes are disordered eating, appearance ideal internalization, body-image-related life disengagement, self-esteem, negative affect, and positive affect. Additional exploratory outcome measures are skin colour dissatisfaction, body hair dissatisfaction, appearance-based teasing, and endorsement of traditional gender roles. These outcomes will be examined at three timepoints: baseline (T1), 1 week-post-intervention (T2), and 12-weeks follow-up (T3). Analyses will compare outcomes in the intervention with the control group. This will be the first study to evaluate a body image intervention for adolescents in semi-rural Indian schools.

Disordered eating through the lens of positive psychology: The role of embodiment, self-esteem and identity coherence

Applying a positive psychology perspective, this study aimed to identify potential intra-individual factors that might protect against the development of disordered eating in a community sample of young women and men (N = 510; 56 % women; M_age = 24.3). Based on existing literature, the study included the general resilience factors of self-esteem and identity coherence as well as two dimensions of positive embodiment (positive body connection and comfort, and agency and functionality). All factors were negatively correlated with disordered eating among women and men. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that positive embodiment, specifically positive body connection, was a significant predictor of lower degrees of disordered eating symptoms in both women and men, followed by self-esteem. The overall prediction model accounted for 42.6 % in the variation of disordered eating symptoms for women and 23.9 % for men. Prevention and treatment interventions promoting health factors that protect against the development of eating disorders are much needed. The present study informs such efforts by emphasizing the promotion of positive embodiment.

Cultural adaptation and validation of the Body Esteem Scale for Adults and Adolescents for use in English among adolescents in urban India

Body image research is growing in India; however, there are no psychometrically valid measures to assess body image concerns among an Indian population. In this study, the Body Esteem Scale for Adults and Adolescents (BESAA) underwent adaptation and validation among urban Indian adolescents in English. Cultural adaptations were made in consultation with body image experts and acceptability interviews with adolescents in India. 1462 adolescents living in Northern India completed the adapted BESAA and measures to assess construct validity. For girls, a 15-item three-factor model provided the best fit to our data, using exploratory factor analysis, with 'Appearance-Negative', 'Appearance-Positive', and 'Weight' subscales. For boys, a 7-item two-factor model provided best fit, with 'Appearance-Negative' and 'Appearance-Positive' subscales. Models were confirmed via confirmatory factor analysis. The scales demonstrated good internal consistency and satisfactory test-retest reliability. Construct, convergent validity was supported for girls and boys through significant correlations with figure rating scales and disordered eating. Further analyses using common items across the female and male scales, produced a psychometrically sound scale that can be used comparatively across genders. This study presents a culturally adapted, shortened BESAA as a valid and reliable measure to assess body image concerns in English among urban Indian adolescents.

Embodiment: Cultural and gender differences and associations with life satisfaction

Although cultural factors have an important impact on individuals' experiences of living in their bodies, to date no studies have examined cross-cultural or gender differences in individuals' experience of embodiment. This study compared Swedish and Canadian women's experience of embodiment (and other body image related constructs), as well as Swedish men and women's experience of embodiment. Associations between embodiment, body esteem, and life satisfaction in men and women were also examined. Participants were 302 Swedish women, 242 Swedish men, and 216 Canadian women. Results showed that Swedish women had overall more positive experience of embodiment, more positive body esteem, lower thin-ideal internalization and lower levels of disordered eating than Canadian women. In comparison to Swedish men, however, Swedish women had more negative experience of embodiment in some ways, but similar experience of embodiment in other ways. Although associations between embodiment, body esteem, and life satisfaction were strong, embodiment was a better predictor of life satisfaction than body esteem for both men and women. Results are interpreted through the lens of the developmental theory of embodiment and consider cultural differences between Sweden and Canada, as well as Swedish society's both progress and problems in promoting gender equity.

The validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA) for children

Background/aim

Body esteem (BE) is defined as the self-evaluation of one’s own body or appearance. The Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA) consists of three subscales: BE-appearance, BE-weight, and BE-attribution. Though initially developed for adolescents and adults, the use of the scale has recently increased in health-related research on children. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the BESAA for children.

Materials and methods

The participants in the study were 4th grade children (aged 9–10 years) in Ankara, Turkey. The validity of the scale was evaluated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient, respectively.

Results

The Turkish version of the BESAA for children includes BE-weight, BE-appearance, and BE-attribution subscales. The scale demonstrated good model fit statistics (chi-square/df = 3.41, P < 0.001) and good internal consistency for BE-weight (α = 0.85), BE-appearance (α = 0.76), and BE-attribution (α = 0.69). According to our findings, test-retest reliability of the three subscales was in the moderate/acceptable range for children (r = 0.57–0.68, P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The Turkish version of the BESAA can be used to measure BE in terms of appearance, weight, and attribution in children.

Change in Children's Self-Concept, Body-Esteem, and Eating Attitudes Before and 4 Years After Maternal RYGB

Introduction

The aim of the present study was to look at longitudinal changes in children’s self-concept, body-esteem, and eating attitudes before and 4 years after maternal RYGB surgery.

Methods

Sixty-nine women and 81 appurtenant children were recruited from RYGB waiting lists at 5 hospitals in Sweden. Families were visited at home pre-surgery, 9 months, and 4 years post-maternal RYGB to measure BMI. Furthermore, all participating family members completed questionnaires. Mothers’ questionnaires measured eating behavior, depression, anxiety, and sleep quality, and children’s questionnaires measured body-esteem, self-concept, and eating attitudes.

Results

Thirty-five/sixty-nine mothers and 43/81 children participated in all 3 measurements. Mothers reduced their BMI from pre-surgery (39.2) to 9 months (27.0) and 4 years post-surgery (27.4). Children’s prevalence of overweight/obesity was lower 9 months post-surgery (48.8%) but at the same levels again 4 years post-surgery (58.1%), compared to pre-surgery (58.1%). The same rebound pattern was seen among children’s eating attitudes, mothers’ symptoms of depression and anxiety, and sleep quality. We found no correlations between mothers’ BMI or eating behavior and children’s BMI or eating behavior.

Conclusion

Children’s prevalence of overweight/obesity and eating attitudes improves soon after their mothers’ RYGB, but then return to pre-surgery levels at 4 years post-surgery, as do mothers’ sleep quality and symptoms of depression and anxiety, even though their weight loss was maintained.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s11695-018-3348-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Life after childhood bullying: Body image development and disordered eating in adulthood

Studies have demonstrated that being bullied in childhood may have long-term associations with lower psychological well-being in adulthood. However, although bullying incidents frequently target the victim’s body and appearance, research has overlooked studying victims’ long-term body image development and risk of engaging in disordered eating later in life. This 14-year longitudinal research project examined childhood bullying in relation to body image development and disordered eating in emerging adulthood. Growth curve analyses of participants’ body image at ages 10–21 years ( N = 960) revealed that more victimized children experienced more body dissatisfaction at baseline and maintained their negative body image throughout adolescence and into adulthood. Mediation analyses showed that childhood bullying (age 10 years) predicted more negative body image in adolescence (age 18 years), which in turn predicted more disordered eating in adulthood (age 24 years). The indirect effect was stronger for girls than for boys. The findings suggest that bullied children are likely to face both more body image problems and disordered eating as they evolve through adolescence and into adulthood, indicating the need for early and effective interventions. Incorporating components known to promote a more positive body image could be a valuable feature of future interventions. Thus, as children and adolescents are taught to cope with bullying situations, they could also be helped to deal with the appearance culture that permeates many of these situations.

From negative to positive body image: Men's and women's journeys from early adolescence to emerging adulthood

This study examined the developmental journeys of individuals who have overcome negative body image in early adolescence and developed positive body image on their way to emerging adulthood. Interviews were conducted with 15 women and 16 men (aged 26-27) recruited from a large longitudinal sample. Results demonstrated different patterns of positive body image development, but most participants had overcome their negative body image by age 18. Factors contributing to their negative body image in early adolescence included negative peer influence and discontent with life in general. Turning points included finding a new social context, experiencing agency and empowerment, and using cognitive strategies to improve body image. Characteristics of the participants' current positive body image coincided with established features of positive body image; novel findings were that the women were more likely to think of positive body image as needing constant work to maintain and were also more likely to have a feminist identity, whereas the men were more likely to try to improve their body shape and perceive their body as resembling the ideal. In conclusion, body image interventions need to target not only matters related to physical appearance but also adolescents' general sense of belonging, agency, and empowerment.

Disordered eating in a Swedish community sample of adolescent girls: subgroups, stability, and associations with body esteem, deliberate self-harm and other difficulties

BACKGROUND

The developmental study of subtypes of disordered eating (DE) during adolescence may be relevant to understand the development of eating disorders. The purpose of the present study was to identify subgroups with different profiles of DE in a community sample of adolescent girls aged 13-15 years, and to study the stability of these profiles and subgroups over a one-year interval in order to find patterns that may need to be addressed in further research and prevention.

METHODS

Cluster analysis according to the LICUR procedure was performed on five aspects of DE, and the structural and individual stability of these clusters was analysed. The clusters were compared with regard to BMI, body esteem, deliberate self-harm, and other kinds of psychological difficulties.

RESULTS

The analysis revealed six clusters (Multiple eating problems including purging, Multiple eating problems without purging, Social eating problems, Weight concerns, Fear of not being able to stop eating, and No eating problems) all of which had structurally stable profiles and five of which showed stability at the individual level. The more pronounced DE clusters (Multiple eating problems including/without purging) were consistently associated with higher levels of psychological difficulties and lower levels of body esteem. Furthermore, girls that reported purging reported engaging in self-harm to a larger extent.

CONCLUSIONS

Subgroups of 13-15 year old girls show stable patterns of disordered eating that are associated with higher rates of psychological impairment and lower body esteem. The subgroup of girls who engage in purging also engage in more deliberate self-harm.

Internalization as a mediator of the relationship between conformity to masculine norms and body image attitudes and behaviors among young men in Sweden, US, UK, and Australia

We examined whether internalization of sociocultural body ideals mediated the relationship between conformity to masculine norms and drive for muscularity, leanness, and thinness in a sample of males from Sweden, US, UK, and Australia. Over six hundred young men [n=142 (Sweden); n=192 (US); n=141 (UK); n=160 (Australia)] completed an online survey that included assessments of masculine role norms, body image, and internalization of sociocultural body ideals. Path analyses confirmed internalization as a mediator between greater conformity to masculine norms and body image measures (drive for thinness, desire for leanness, and desire for muscularity) across the sample. However, significant cross-country differences in the strength of these mediation effects were found. Mediation effects among US, Australian, and Swedish males were comparable, whereas these effects were weaker in the UK sample. Findings confirmed the importance of internalization of sociocultural body ideals in the tested models.

Unnecessary Dieting Intention and Behavior among Female Students in Naha City, Japan

Weight concerns and dieting are prevalent among female adolescents both in Western and Asian countries. They can result in negative psychological and physiological consequences. This study aimed to examine the relative importance of social and personal factors in the decision to diet among female adolescent students in Japan, applying the Theory of Planned Behavior. Data were collected from five junior high schools and three high schools in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, in 2010, through self-administered questionnaires. The data of 756 female students were assessed. The independent variables included social factor variables (norms) and personal factor variables (attitude to dieting, perceived behavior control, body esteem, body-figure discrepancy and past dieting). The dependent variables were dieting intention and behavior. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to examine three models: model 1 (age and obesity index), model 2 (social factor variables with age and obesity index) and model 3 (all variables). Although model 2 failed to explain a substantial proportion of the variance, model 3 explained approximately a half of the variance for intention (R² = 0.507) and more than one third of the variance for behavior (R² = 0.376). Past experience of dieting was the best predictor of both dieting intention and behavior. Body esteem was the second best predictor for dieting behavior. In conclusion, personal factors are more likely than social factors to drive the dieting decision. Diet education programs should consider targeting frequent dieters and those with poor body esteem.

Children's weight status, body esteem, and self-concept after maternal gastric bypass surgery

BACKGROUND

There is little research on the effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery on the patients' offspring's weight and psychosocial well-being. The present study investigates how children are affected in terms of weight status, body esteem, and self-concept after maternal RYGB.

METHODS

Sixty-nine women and their families were recruited from RYGB waiting lists at 5 Swedish hospitals. Data was collected during home visits 3 months before and 12 months after RYGB. Anthropometrical measures were taken, and the children completed the Body Esteem Scale (BES) and the Beck Self-Concept Inventory (BYI-S).

RESULTS

Prevalence or relative risk in weight status between the time points were explored using Poisson regression models (General Estimating Equations). We found stronger statistical evidence for a decreased risk of overweight (RR = .85, 57.0% versus 48.6%, P = .048), than for obesity (RR = .87, 18.2% versus 15.9%, P = .447). The boys' body esteem increased slightly, whilst the girls' did not. There were no significant differences in mean BYI-S scores.

CONCLUSIONS

The reasons behind the statistically significant decrease in overweight but not obesity risk in children after maternal RYGB may be caused by insufficient statistical power to detect changes in obesity risk alone. Body esteem seems to be slightly positively affected in boys 9 months after maternal RYGB. Longer follow-up times and larger samples would be useful in future research.

Changes in 10-year-old children's body esteem: a time-lag study between 2000 and 2010

This time-lag study examined if there has been any changes in body esteem over a 10-year period for 10-year old children in Gothenburg, Sweden. Two cohorts of children, one in year 2000 and one in 2010, answered the same questionnaire about body esteem. A total of 960 children, 515 girls and 445 boys, participated in the first wave in 2000 and a total of 342 children, 171 girls and 171 boys participated in the second wave in 2010. The results showed a general stability in levels of body esteem for both girls and boys over the past 10 years. The gender differences, with boys being more satisfied with their appearance and weight compared to girls also seems to be stable over the years. In addition, the results also showed a somewhat positive development among the overweight girls with enhanced body esteem for the overweight girls compared to the non-overweight girls during the ten years studied. Unfortunately, the same pattern was not found for overweight boys. For them the discrepancy in body esteem compared to non-overweight boys, with the overweight boys being more dissatisfied, found in 2000 remained in 2010.

Reciprocal prospective associations between disordered eating and other psychological problems in a community sample of Swedish adolescent girls

Disordered eating and its associations with psychological difficulties and body satisfaction were prospectively studied in a community sample of 13-15 year old adolescent girls (N=428). General psychological difficulties (including hyperactivity-inattention) and lower levels of body satisfaction at T1 were found to predict disordered eating at follow-up one year later (T2). Furthermore, reciprocal associations were found between disordered eating and psychological difficulties (but not body dissatisfaction) so that disordered eating at T1 predicted general psychological difficulties (including hyperactivity-inattention) at T2. The results support the notion of a vicious interplay between disordered eating and other subclinical psychological problems, which may represent a potential mechanism for the development of clinically significant eating disorders. It is suggested that it could be important to identify these kinds of bidirectional processes at an early stage, in order to prevent further developments of clinical forms of psychopathology.

Swedish 18-year-olds' identity formation: associations with feelings about appearance and internalization of body ideals

The aim of this study with Swedish 18-year-olds (N = 714, 55.2% women) was to investigate identity formation in relation to body-esteem and body ideal internalization. These are all important aspects of adolescents' development, but little is known about how they are related. This study indicates that late adolescents' identity formation, body-esteem, and body ideal internalizations are related. Women's interpersonal identity commitments and explorations were related to more positive thoughts about how others evaluate their appearance. Their interpersonal identity explorations were also related to more internalization of societal body ideals. For men, stronger interpersonal identity commitments were related to more positive own evaluations about their appearance. The results also showed that compared to men, women explored identity issues more, had poorer body-esteem, and had internalized body ideals more.

"I bet they aren't that perfect in reality:" Appearance ideals viewed from the perspective of adolescents with a positive body image

In this qualitative study, we examined the topic of appearance ideals from the perspective of 14-year-old adolescents (N=29) with a positive body image. A thematic analysis revealed that the adolescents with a positive body image were very critical against current ideals, describing them as unnatural and unrealistic, and criticizing media for only showing those consistent with the ideals and having underlying intentions with doing so. Instead, the adolescents defined beauty widely and flexibly, stressed the importance of looking like 'oneself', and conveyed the idea of personality as outplaying looks. The perception of beauty as subjective was also prominent. These results may be helpful when forming preventions targeting those at risk for developing negative body image, adding support for preventions based on media literacy and feminist theories. Additionally, we stress the significance of providing adolescents with alternative ways of thinking about ideals, beauty, and attractiveness.

What characterizes early adolescents with a positive body image? A qualitative investigation of Swedish girls and boys

The aim of the present study was to investigate positive body image during adolescence. Semi-structured interviews, centring on three body image domains (satisfaction with own appearance, views on exercise, and influence from family and friends) were conducted with 30 early adolescent Swedish girls and boys who at age 10 and 13 had shown the highest level of body satisfaction in a large longitudinal sample. The data were analyzed thematically. Results revealed that the adolescents' satisfaction with their own appearance was characterized by a functional view of the body and an acceptance of the bodily imperfections that they perceived that they had. The vast majority of the adolescents were physically active and found exercise joyful and health-promoting. Finally, although some of the adolescents had received negative comments about their appearance from family and friends, such comments were not given any importance.

Self-reported emotional and behavioral problems in Swedish 14 to 15-year-old adolescents: a study with the self-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

The psychometric properties of the Swedish self-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-s), and the prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems as measured by the SDQ-s, were studied in 14 to 15-year-old adolescents. The psychometric properties were found to be similar to those found in other language versions, in terms of similar factor structure and acceptable test-retest stability, but low internal consistencies for some of the subscales. There was evidence of good convergent and discriminant validity. The results with regard to gender differences replicated previous findings in other countries, the girls reporting more emotional symptoms and more prosocial behavior, and the boys reporting more conduct problems and tending to report more peer problems. It is concluded that the results are in favor of using the Swedish SDQ-s as a screening instrument for adolescents, despite the low internal consistencies of some of its subscales.

Measuring health-related quality of life in adolescence

Until now, adolescents' health-related quality of life (HRQL) has primarily been examined together with children or adults. Specific aspects of adolescents' HRQL have often been neglected. However, this period in life has its own specific characteristics that must be considered in order to understand more about adolescents' HRQL. This review addresses the following issues: Which domains of HRQL are particularly important to adolescents? How are these important features of adolescent functioning related to overall HRQL?

CONCLUSION

When examining adolescents' HRQL it is essential to acknowledge the specific aspects of adolescents' HRQL, rather than regard these individuals as either children or adults and to cover important topics that are especially salient during this period in life, such as: physical maturation and body image; peer relationships; intimacy and sexuality; and autonomy.

Dieting behaviors, body shape perceptions, and body satisfaction: cross-cultural differences in Argentinean and Swedish 13-year-olds

This exploratory study represents a cross-cultural effort to examine differences in dieting practices and weight loss attempts, perceived body shape, and body satisfaction between young Argentinean and Swedish adolescents. The study group consisted of 358 Argentinean (193 girls, 165 boys) and 874 Swedish (474 girls, 400 boys) 13-year-olds. A main finding was that Argentinean and Swedish adolescents did not differ on body satisfaction, although girls in both countries displayed greater body dissatisfaction than did boys. Dieting and weight loss attempts were more prevalent among the Argentinean adolescents, especially among girls, and did not appear to depend on overweight or perception of body shape. The samples also differed in their perceptions of body shape and the effect those perceptions had on their body satisfaction, with Swedish adolescents suffering more from negative body shape perceptions.

Insatisfação corporal em escolares de dois municípios da região Sul do Brasil

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a prevalência de insatisfação corporal e fatores associados em escolares de dois municípios de pequeno porte no Sul do Brasil. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, realizado com 573 escolares de 8 a 10 anos dos municípios de Dois Irmãos e Morro Reuter, Rio Grande do Sul. Foram coletados dados sobre insatisfação corporal e peso das crianças por meio de escala de imagem corporal (Children's Figure Rating Scale) e antropometria. As mães responderam questionário sobre preocupações e percepções relacionadas ao peso dos filhos. O Índice de Massa Corporal foi utilizado para classificar o estado nutricional. Fez-se análise de regressão logística para avaliar associações entre as variáveis estudadas e a insatisfação corporal. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de insatisfação corporal foi de 63,9%, sendo que 16,9% estavam com sobrepeso. As variáveis associadas com insatisfação corporal foram: risco para obesidade (Odds ratio=2,91; IC95% 1,26-6,74) e obesidade (Odds ratio=4,47; IC95% 1,12-17,9); residir em zona urbana (Odss ratio=1,75; IC95% 1,03-2,97); mães com menos de oito anos de escolaridade (Odds ratio=1,57; IC95% 1,03-2,40); percepções da mãe de que o filho estava abaixo ou acima do peso adequado (Odds ratio=1,65; IC95% 1,05-2,59) e de que ele se preocupava com o peso (Odds ratio=1,53; IC95% 1,05-2,23). CONCLUSÃO: Altos índices de insatisfação com o corpo também são observados em pré-adolescentes de cidades do interior. Os dados gerados por este estudo são suficientes para alertar pais, educadores e profissionais de saúde para a necessidade de desenvolver estratégias que visem a maior satisfação das crianças com o seu corpo.

Ten-year-old girls' and boys' body composition and peer victimization experiences: prospective associations with body satisfaction

This study examined prospective associations between 10-year-olds' weight and height, their perception of shape and stature, frequent experiences of peer victimization, and different aspects of body esteem at age 13. Participants were 474 girls and 400 boys participating in a two-wave longitudinal questionnaire study. Main results were that whereas actually being heavier built at age 10 was associated with girls' increments in body dissatisfaction, the mere perception of being too heavy was associated with boys' poorer body satisfaction. Also, boys who believed that they were too short were more dissatisfied at follow-up. Whereas frequent peer victimization had long-term associations with girls' weight-esteem, teasing targeted towards appearance was associated with boys' more negative beliefs about what others think about their appearance. Finally, participants had become significantly more dissatisfied at age 13, suggesting that this is a time in life when both girls and boys risk becoming increasingly critical towards their appearance.

Is peer victimization related to body esteem in 10-year-old girls and boys?

Several studies show that a history of exposure to appearance-related teasing is linked to body dissatisfaction. This study extends those findings by examining the impact of bullying, and other forms of peer victimization, on different aspects of 10-year-old girls' and boys' body esteem. Participants were 960 Swedish 10-year-olds, 515 girls and 445 boys. Principal results show that social exclusion is related to 10-year-olds' evaluations of their general appearance, to evaluations of their weight, and to beliefs about how others perceive their appearance. Furthermore, bullied girls have poorer body esteem in terms of beliefs of how others perceive their appearance than do bullied boys. Appearance teasing was associated with girls' poorer body esteem in terms of general appearance and beliefs of others views of their appearance. For boys, teasing was associated with poorer body esteem on all dimensions. Thus, this study implies that a wider range of peer victimization relates to children's negative self-perceptions than was former known.