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. 2022 May 23;22(1):302.
doi: 10.1186/s12887-022-03373-4.

Factors of body dissatisfaction among lebanese adolescents: the indirect effect of self-esteem between mental health and body dissatisfaction

Sara Al-Musharaf  1 , Radoslaw Rogoza  2   3 , Mariam Mhanna  4 , Michel Soufia  4 , Sahar Obeid  5 , Souheil Hallit  6   7   8
Affiliations

Factors of body dissatisfaction among lebanese adolescents: the indirect effect of self-esteem between mental health and body dissatisfaction

Sara Al-Musharaf et al. BMC Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: Body dissatisfaction (BD) rates are alarmingly high, especially among adolescents, thus. Having a better understanding of correlates associated with BD seems to be an important issue in this developmental context. Furthermore, as adolescence is an essential time in the development of self-perception and self-esteem the current study assesses factors associated with BD among Lebanese adolescents and evaluates the indirect effect of self-esteem between depression/anxiety/stress and BD.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study among 555 Lebanese adolescents, ages 15-18, who completed an online survey incorporating BD, socioeconomic status, weight and height, physical activity index, Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale, Beirut Distress Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Global Physical Activity Questionnaire.

Results: The results of a stepwise linear regression, taking the body dissatisfaction score as the dependent variable, showed that higher BMI (B = 0.47), feeling pressured by media/TV to lose weight (Beta = 2.80), higher depression (Beta = 0.39), exercising to lose weight (Beta = 1.84) and following a diet to lose weight (Beta = 1.58) were significantly associated with more body dissatisfaction, whereas higher self-esteem (Beta=-0.11) and more psychological distress (Beta=-0.21) were significantly associated with less body dissatisfaction. Self-esteem played an indirect role in the associations between anxiety and body dissatisfaction and stress and body dissatisfaction.

Conclusions: BD is common among young Lebanese adolescents. Treating adolescents with low self-esteem and psychological issues is crucial in preventing anticipated BD and future eating disorders.

Keywords: Adolescents; Body dissatisfaction; Depression; Lebanon; Self-esteem.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
a Relation between anxiety and self-esteem; b Relation between self-esteem and body dissatisfaction; c total effect of anxiety on body dissatisfaction; (c’) direct effect of anxiety on body dissatisfaction. Numbers are displayed as regression coefficients (standard error). *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a Relation between stress and self-esteem; b Relation between self-esteem and body dissatisfaction; c total effect of stress on body dissatisfaction; c’ direct effect of stress on body dissatisfaction. Numbers are displayed as regression coefficients (standard error). **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001
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