Weight-Related Teasing of Adolescents Who Are Primarily Obese: Roles of Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance and Physical Activity Self-Efficacy

Carolyn E. Ievers-Landis, Carly Dykstra, Naveen Uli and Mary Ann O’Riordan
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Carolyn E. Ievers-Landis: Division of Developmental/Behavioral Pediatrics & Psychology, Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, UH Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106-6038, USA
Carly Dykstra: Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, UH Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Naveen Uli: Division of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, UH Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Mary Ann O’Riordan: Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, UH Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: Adolescents who are obese are at risk for being teased about their appearance with the concomitant negative psychological sequelae. Identifying modifiable variables associated with teasing could inform pediatric weight-management interventions. Characterizing society’s role in the victimization of these at-risk individuals could guide anti-bullying programs for schools and broader public health efforts. This study aims to examine novel societal and cognitive factors associated with weight-related teasing frequency. Participants were adolescents ( N = 334) being evaluated for a hospital-affiliated weight-management program. The outcome was perceived weight-related teasing frequency. Predictors were sociocultural awareness and internalization of appearance-related attitudes, physical activity self-efficacy, and psychological functioning. Multivariate regressions controlled for demographics and body mass index (BMI) z-scores with separate regressions testing interactions of BMI z-scores with all predictors. In adjusted analyses, higher physical activity self-efficacy and fewer depressive symptoms related to lower teasing frequency. Interactions indicated that less awareness/internalization of sociocultural attitudes towards appearance, more positive body image, and higher self-esteem related to lower teasing frequency regardless of BMI. Targeted interventions and public health campaigns should be developed and tested for adolescents that improve body image with promotion of diverse views about attractiveness, bolster confidence in overcoming physical activity barriers, and identify and treat mood symptoms.

Keywords: adolescent; obesity; teasing; weight-related teasing; appearance; body image; physical activity self-efficacy; sociocultural attitudes towards appearance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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