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. 2010 Jun;51(2):215-28.
doi: 10.1177/0022146510372353.

The image in the mirror and the number on the scale: weight, weight perceptions, and adolescent depressive symptoms

Michelle L Frisco  1 , Jason N Houle, Molly A Martin
Affiliations

The image in the mirror and the number on the scale: weight, weight perceptions, and adolescent depressive symptoms

Michelle L Frisco et al. J Health Soc Behav. 2010 Jun.

Abstract

Double jeopardy and health congruency theories suggest that adolescents' joint experience of their weight and weight perceptions are associated with depressive symptoms, but each theory offers a different prediction about which adolescents are at greatest risk. This study investigates the proposed associations and the applicability of both theoretical perspectives using data from 6,557 male and 6,126 female National Longitudinal Study ofAdolescent Health (Add Health) Wave II participants. Empirically, results indicate that focusing on the intersection of weight and weight perceptions better shows which adolescents are at risk of depressive symptoms than an approach that treats both predictors as independent, unrelated constructs. Weight pessimists are at greatest risk of depressive symptoms. Thus, results support the health congruency framework, its extension to subpopulations outside of older adults, and its extension to optimism and pessimism about specific health conditions.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Adolescents Most Likely to Report Depressive Symptoms due to the Intersection of Actual Weight and Weight Perceptions According to Two Theoretical Frameworks Notes:

  1. formula image de Denotes group with a high probability of depressive symptoms according to double jeopardy (all adolescents)

  2. formula image Denotes group with a high probability of depressive symptoms according to double jeopardy (boys only)

  3. formula image Denotes group with a high probability of depressive symptoms according to weight congruency

  4. Bar height corresponds to a high risk of depressive symptoms only; It does not correspond to any particular predicted value.

  5. adenotes reference group

Figure 2
Figure 2
The Predicted Probability of Reporting Depressive Symptoms by Actual Weight and Weight Perceptions among Boys Notes:

  1. Reference groups for comparison:

    1. (*): Normal weight boys who perceive being about the right weight

    2. (!): Overweight boys who perceive being about the right weight

  2. Denoted differences between groups are statistically significant at or below the p = .01 level

  3. formula image Denotes group with a high probability of depressive symptoms according to double jeopardy

  4. formula image Denotes group with a high probability of depressive symptoms according to weight congruency

  5. ȳ line denotes average probability of depressive symptoms for boys

Figure 3
Figure 3
The Predicted Probability of Reporting Depressive Symptoms by Actual Weight and Weight Perceptions among Girls Notes:

  1. Reference groups for comparison:

    1. (*): Normal weight girls who perceive being about the right weight

    2. (#): Overweight girls who are actually overweight

  2. Denoted differences between groups are statistically significant at or below the p = .01 level

  3. formula image Denotes group with a high probability of depressive symptoms according to double jeopardy

  4. formula image Denotes group with a high probability of depressive symptoms according to weight congruency

  5. ȳ line denotes average probability of depressive symptoms for boys

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Bearman Peter S, Jones Jo, Richard Udry J. The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health: Research Design. Carolina Population Center; Chapel Hill, NC: 1997.
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    1. Brener Nancy D, Eaton Danice K, Lowry Richard, McManus Tim. The association between weight perception and BMI among high school students. Obesity Research. 2004;12:1866–1874. - PubMed
    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. BMI-for-Age. Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity; 2003.

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