Trends in the Perceived Body Size of Adolescent Males and Females in Scotland, 1990-2014: Changing Associations with Mental Well-being

Overview

Journal Int J Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2017 Jul 3

PMID 28668973

Citations 12

Authors

Ross D Whitehead

Alina Cosma

Jo Cecil

Candace Currie

Dorothy Currie

Fergus Neville

Jo Inchley

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: This paper explores trends in Scottish adolescents' body size perceptions and associated mental well-being outcomes.

Methods: Data were collected on Scottish 11-, 13-, and 15-year-olds by the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study between 1990 and 2014 (n = 42,312). Logistic regression was used to examine changes in the prevalence of over- and underweight perceptions. Ordinal and linear regressions were used to examine changes in the association between body perception and mental well-being.

Results: Little change was observed in over- or underweight perceptions. However, relative to those perceiving their body as 'about right', those perceiving themselves as overweight reported decreasing confidence (all groups), decreasing happiness (11- and 13-year-old girls), and increasing psychological health symptoms (all girls and 15-year-old boys). Perceived underweight is associated with poor well-being, especially in males, but we present little evidence that this is a recent phenomenon.

Conclusions: We present evidence suggesting that the association between body size perception and poor mental health in adolescence is changing over time. This may play a role in the recently observed worsening of mental well-being in Scottish adolescents.

Citing Articles

Three Decades of Adolescent Health: Unveiling Global Trends Across 41 Countries in Psychological and Somatic Complaints (1994-2022).

Schrijvers K, Cosma A, Potrebny T, Thorsteinsson E, Catunda C, Reiss F Int J Public Health. 2024; 69:1607774.

PMID: 39687284 PMC: 11646713. DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2024.1607774.

Association between weight, weight perception, weight teasing and mental health among adolescents.

Gu W, Yu X, Tan Y, Yu Z, Zhu J Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2024; 18(1):39.

PMID: 38521915 PMC: 10960988. DOI: 10.1186/s13034-024-00730-2.

Assessment of Factors Associated With Mental Well-Being Among Chinese Youths at Individual, School, and Province Levels.

Zhang P, Yang F, Huang N, Yan W, Zhang B, Zhang C JAMA Netw Open. 2023; 6(7):e2324025.

PMID: 37462971 PMC: 10354672. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.24025.

Relationship between eating disorders perception and psychosocial profile in school-dropout adolescents.

Mastorci F, Lazzeri M, Piaggi P, Doveri C, Casu A, Trivellini G J Eat Disord. 2023; 11(1):59.

PMID: 37041596 PMC: 10091672. DOI: 10.1186/s40337-023-00783-2.

Association between Nutritional Behaviours and Acne-Related Quality of Life in a Population of Polish Male Adolescents.

Lozynska K, Glabska D Nutrients. 2022; 14(13).

PMID: 35807855 PMC: 9268073. DOI: 10.3390/nu14132677.

References

Siegel J, Yancey A, Aneshensel C, Schuler R . Body image, perceived pubertal timing, and adolescent mental health. J Adolesc Health. 1999; 25(2):155-65. DOI: 10.1016/s1054-139x(98)00160-8. View

Brownell K, Kersh R, Ludwig D, Post R, Puhl R, Schwartz M . Personal responsibility and obesity: a constructive approach to a controversial issue. Health Aff (Millwood). 2010; 29(3):379-87. DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0739. View

Strahan E, Wilson A, Cressman K, Buote V . Comparing to perfection: How cultural norms for appearance affect social comparisons and self-image. Body Image. 2007; 3(3):211-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2006.07.004. View

Robinson E, Hunger J, Daly M . Perceived weight status and risk of weight gain across life in US and UK adults. Int J Obes (Lond). 2015; 39(12):1721-6. DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2015.143. View

Linde J, Rothman A, Baldwin A, Jeffery R . The impact of self-efficacy on behavior change and weight change among overweight participants in a weight loss trial. Health Psychol. 2006; 25(3):282-91. DOI: 10.1037/0278-6133.25.3.282. View

Voelker D, Reel J, Greenleaf C . Weight status and body image perceptions in adolescents: current perspectives. Adolesc Health Med Ther. 2015; 6:149-58. PMC: 4554432. DOI: 10.2147/AHMT.S68344. View

Elgar F, Stewart J . Validity of self-report screening for overweight and obesity. Evidence from the Canadian Community Health Survey. Can J Public Health. 2008; 99(5):423-7. PMC: 6975656. View

Haugland S, Wold B, Stevenson J, Aaroe L, Woynarowska B . Subjective health complaints in adolescence. A cross-national comparison of prevalence and dimensionality. Eur J Public Health. 2001; 11(1):4-10. DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/11.1.4. View

Cash T, Szymanski M . The development and validation of the Body-Image Ideals Questionnaire. J Pers Assess. 1995; 64(3):466-77. DOI: 10.1207/s15327752jpa6403_6. View

10.

Leone J, Sedory E, Gray K . Recognition and treatment of muscle dysmorphia and related body image disorders. J Athl Train. 2006; 40(4):352-9. PMC: 1323298. View

11.

Loth K, Watts A, Van Den Berg P, Neumark-Sztainer D . Does Body Satisfaction Help or Harm Overweight Teens? A 10-Year Longitudinal Study of the Relationship Between Body Satisfaction and Body Mass Index. J Adolesc Health. 2015; 57(5):559-61. PMC: 4624011. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.07.008. View

12.

Blashill A, Wilhelm S . Body Image Distortions, Weight, and Depression in Adolescent Boys: Longitudinal Trajectories into Adulthood. Psychol Men Masc. 2014; 15(4):445-451. PMC: 4219600. DOI: 10.1037/a0034618. View

13.

Fenton C, Brooks F, Spencer N, Morgan A . Sustaining a positive body image in adolescence: an assets-based analysis. Health Soc Care Community. 2009; 18(2):189-98. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2524.2009.00888.x. View

14.

Quick V, Nansel T, Liu D, Lipsky L, Due P, Iannotti R . Body size perception and weight control in youth: 9-year international trends from 24 countries. Int J Obes (Lond). 2014; 38(7):988-94. PMC: 4090285. DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2014.62. View

15.

Sypeck M, Gray J, Ahrens A . No longer just a pretty face: fashion magazines' depictions of ideal female beauty from 1959 to 1999. Int J Eat Disord. 2004; 36(3):342-7. DOI: 10.1002/eat.20039. View

16.

Neumark-Sztainer D, Paxton S, Hannan P, Haines J, Story M . Does body satisfaction matter? Five-year longitudinal associations between body satisfaction and health behaviors in adolescent females and males. J Adolesc Health. 2006; 39(2):244-51. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.12.001. View

17.

Atlantis E, Ball K . Association between weight perception and psychological distress. Int J Obes (Lond). 2008; 32(4):715-21. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803762. View

18.

ODea J . Prevention of child obesity: 'first, do no harm'. Health Educ Res. 2004; 20(2):259-65. DOI: 10.1093/her/cyg116. View

19.

Blowers L, Loxton N, Grady-Flesser M, Occhipinti S, Dawe S . The relationship between sociocultural pressure to be thin and body dissatisfaction in preadolescent girls. Eat Behav. 2004; 4(3):229-44. DOI: 10.1016/S1471-0153(03)00018-7. View

20.

Fulkerson J, Sherwood N, Perry C, Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M . Depressive symptoms and adolescent eating and health behaviors: a multifaceted view in a population-based sample. Prev Med. 2004; 38(6):865-75. DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2003.12.028. View