Associations Between Teasing, Quality of Life, and Physical Activity Among Preadolescent Children

Objective: This study assessed longitudinal associations between preadolescent's physical activity engagement (PA), health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and teasing during physical activity (TDPA).

Methods: 108 children completed measures of PA, HRQOL, and TDPA during fourth or fifth grade and 1 year later. Potential longitudinal associations between study variables were tested using structural equation modeling.

Results: Weight status emerged as an important moderator of the structural relationships. TDPA predicted later HRQOL for children with overweight and obesity, whereas HRQOL predicted later PA in children with normal weight. Both groups demonstrated a significant association between TDPA and HRQOL cross-sectionally.

Conclusions: Children with overweight or obesity who experience TDPA are more likely to report poorer subsequent HRQOL. Children with normal weight who experience TDPA are at increased risk for reduced PA 1 year later. Efforts to reduce TDPA may benefit children's HRQOL and increase PA participation.