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. 2011 Jan-Feb;35(1):92-104.
doi: 10.5993/ajhb.35.1.9.

Longitudinal analysis of weight perception and psychological factors in Chinese adolescents

Bin Xie  1 , Chih-Ping Chou, Donna Spruijt-Metz, Kim Reynolds, Paula H Palmer, Qiaobing Wu, Peggy Gallaher, C Anderson Johnson
Affiliations

Longitudinal analysis of weight perception and psychological factors in Chinese adolescents

Bin Xie et al. Am J Health Behav. 2011 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate associations of overweight status and perception with trajectories of psychological distress in adolescents.

Methods: Longitudinal data for 6970 Chinese adolescents were included. The multivariate curve-of-factor latent growth curve models were adopted to examine trajectories of psychological distress symptoms and associations with overweight status and perception.

Results: After controlling for actual overweight status, psychological distress symptoms were weakly but significantly associated with overweight perception (γ = 0.08 for boys and γ = 0.10 for girls, P < 0.05) and misperception (γ = 0.06 for boys and γ = 0.09 for girls, P < 0.05).

Discussion: Our findings help understanding associations of overweight perception and psychological well being of adolescents.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
The multivariate Curve-of-Factor Latent Growth Curve Model. Y1-Y3: hostility at time 1-time3; Y4–Y6: perceived stress at time 1-time 3; Y7–Y9: depressive symptoms at time 1-time 3. F1–F3: common factor of psychological distress at time 1-time 3. λa and λb: factor loadings equally constrained across time. E1–E9: residual error terms for Y1–Y9. D1–D3: disturbance of F1–F3. F4–F5: intercept and slope factors of change trajectory. Mi and Ms: means of intercept and slope. Di and Ds: variances of intercept and slope. Ris: covariance between intercept and slope. X1–X3: repeated measures of overweight status and perception. γ: regression coefficient from time-varying X1–X3 to time-varying F1–F3, and was equally constrained across time. C1–C5: baseline control variables including grade, puberty, parental education, family income and city residence.
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