Sequentially Mediated Effects of Weight-related Self-stigma and Psychological Distress in the Association Between Perceived Weight Stigma and Food Addiction Among Taiwanese University Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Overview

Journal J Eat Disord

Publisher Biomed Central

Date 2022 Nov 22

PMID 36414956

Authors

Po-Ching Huang

Chiu-Hsiang Lee

Mark D Griffiths

Kerry S OBrien

Yi-Ching Lin

Wan Ying Gan

Wai Chuen Poon

Ching-Hsia Hung

Kuo-Hsin Lee

Chung-Ying Lin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Weight-related stigma has negative physiological and psychological impacts on individuals' quality of life. Stigmatized individuals may experience higher psychological distress and therefore increase the potential risk to develop obesity and/or food addiction. The present study examined the associations and mediated effect between perceived weight stigma, weight-related self-stigma, and psychological distress in explaining food addiction among Taiwanese university students.

Methods: All participants (n = 968) completed an online survey which included the Perceived Weight Stigma Questionnaire, Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire, Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21, and Yale Food Addiction Scale Version 2.

Results: After controlling for demographic variables, significant associations were found in the paths from (1) perceived weight stigma to weight-related self-stigma ([Formula: see text] = 0.23), psychological distress ([Formula: see text] = 0.35), and food addiction ([Formula: see text] = 0.23); (2) weight-related self-stigma to psychological distress ([Formula: see text] = 0.52) and food addiction ([Formula: see text] = 0.59); and (3) psychological distress to food addiction ([Formula: see text] = 0.59) (all p-values < 0.001). The mediation model showed the sequential mediated effect of weight-related self-stigma and psychological distress in the association between perceived weight stigma and food addiction.

Conclusions: The results provide novel insights that weight-related self-stigma and psychological distress sequentially mediated the relationship between perceived weight stigma and food addiction among Taiwanese university students. The findings of the present study could be implemented into interventions that aim to reduce food addiction derived from weight-related stigma. Future studies should consider group analysis to consider confounding factors or other populations to provide more evidence regarding the mechanism of weight-related stigma.

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