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. 2021 May;54(5):831-840.
doi: 10.1002/eat.23492. Epub 2021 Feb 28.

The longitudinal relationship between family and peer teasing in young adulthood and later unhealthy weight control behaviors: The mediating role of body image

Rachel F Rodgers  1   2 , Melissa Simone  3 , Debra L Franko  1 , Marla E Eisenberg  4 , Katie Loth  5 , Dianne Neumark-Sztainer  6
Affiliations

The longitudinal relationship between family and peer teasing in young adulthood and later unhealthy weight control behaviors: The mediating role of body image

Rachel F Rodgers et al. Int J Eat Disord. 2021 May.

Abstract

Objective: Sociocultural theories hold that family and peer weight-related teasing increases the risk for unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCBs) by negatively impacting body image. Although much cross-sectional support exists for these pathways, longitudinal data are lacking. This study tested the longitudinal relationships among peer and family teasing (occurrence and perceived impact) in early adolescence, body satisfaction in late adolescence, and UWCBs in young adulthood among a racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse population.

Method: Data were drawn from three waves of Project EAT over a 15-year period (Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults), and included responses from 1,902 young adults (57% female).

Results: Among female participants, a mediated indirect pathway emerged with family weight-related teasing predicting increased engagement in UWCBs in early adulthood via poorer body image in late adolescence. In contrast, peer teasing did not predict body image or UWCBs. Among boys, the mediated indirect pathways were not significant. However, poor body image in late adolescent males predicted higher likelihood of engaging in UCWBs in early adulthood.

Discussion: These findings support the long-term impact of family weight-related teasing on greater risk for UWCBs among girls and young women, and poor body image as a mechanism accounting for this relationship. Moreover, the results highlight the poor body image among adolescent boys as a factor for increased risk of engaging in UWCBs in early adulthood. Pending replication in current cohorts, health promotion and prevention involving family members of early adolescents that address family weight teasing and body image are needed.

Keywords: EAT; UWCB; body dissatisfaction; family; longitudinal; peer; teasing.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Path analysis results for women, with data from EAT I-III. Control variables, paths, and coefficients from earlier measurement occasions are presented in grey font
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Path analysis results for men, with data from EAT I-III. Control variables, paths, and coefficients from earlier measurement occasions are presented in grey font
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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